http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/524/blog_posts/2020-the-list-has-begun#comments Comments from 'The list has begun' in The list has begun at BiggerPockets.com http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/524/blog_posts/2020-the-list-has-begun#c_1696 http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/524/blog_posts/2020-the-list-has-begun#c_1696 Thanks Harrison, I look forward to our conversation http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/524/blog_posts/2020-the-list-has-begun#c_1705 http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/524/blog_posts/2020-the-list-has-begun#c_1705 Great start Norm. Action is the key and you have already seen some small fruits of that tiny labor. Now just increase it. Note: In my experience, you will spend more time wasted looking at vacant homes (that are not REO's) and tracking down the owners. While this strategy can produce some awsome deals, it is a lot of leg work and time, just to find out you either couldn't locate the owner, or they did not want to sell. Since there are so many REO's available, it just makes more sense to start there and they require no marketing expense! As for what you tell your buyers, while I agree with Harrison that being honest is the best policy, I don't see anything wrong with just telling them you regularly have great investmnet deals you will sell to other investors and leave it at that. Unless the question is directly asked, why give out information that is unnecessary at that time. Just my opinion. http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/524/blog_posts/2020-the-list-has-begun#c_1709 http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/524/blog_posts/2020-the-list-has-begun#c_1709 Great advice Will. I have received a few more calls recently, along with a few e-mails about the craig's list ad, so that's going ok. A lot more work to do. http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/524/blog_posts/2020-the-list-has-begun#c_1717 http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/524/blog_posts/2020-the-list-has-begun#c_1717 Today was phone day. Got on the phone and called some 'we buy houses" ads, as well as for rent ads. While most were no answers, property management companies,and weren't buying anymore property at this time, I did speak to 2 very nice gentlemen. The one I'm particularly excited about. He has bought over 400 houses in this area. Mainly buy and flip. He just bought 15 condos that he was rehabbing near one of the lakes in this area. After explaining my criteria, he said he would look at anything I came up with and it didn't matter how much money-wise, all cash. Another was an owner of a property management company. He buys cheap, rehabs, and sells to other investors. Then offer property management to them. He too said if I came up with anything to call him. So 2 more added to the buyers list. I believe that's 4 in under a weeks work. So far so good I guess. One can usually tell when someone is serious or not. I think they are. Or I don't think they would have spent the time they did with me on the phone. So we'll see. I have to say though, I still feel a bit "scatter brain" http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/524/blog_posts/2020-the-list-has-begun#c_1719 http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/524/blog_posts/2020-the-list-has-begun#c_1719 Great job Norm, you are on your way to building a great buyer's list. Now all you need is the tools to lock up great deals! Congrats on your running start, keep it up. http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/524/blog_posts/2020-the-list-has-begun#c_1720 http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/524/blog_posts/2020-the-list-has-begun#c_1720 Well I get an "E' for effort anyway. A lot more to do for sure. REIA picnic tonite at 5 pm. I'll be there. Thanks for the encouragement. Are these "tools" something I can pick up At Home Depot?...lol (it would make things much easier) http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/524/blog_posts/2020-the-list-has-begun#c_1746 http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/524/blog_posts/2020-the-list-has-begun#c_1746 Attended a picnic for the REI club. A little disappointed though, not many showed up. I did have conversation with a guy who is looking for property. Didn't really push the "wholesaler' thing. Just BS ed for a while, conversationally if you will. I did get his card, and found out he lives a couple miles from me. Not sure if that's good or bad. I did ask if he's looking for property, and He said "always looking", so I added him to the buyers list. When I first arrived, there were a few guys talking abut RE. I introduced myself and LISTENED. The one guy I talked with had over 50 units. The other guy who was basically doing most of the talking, was talking about a few houses that had recently sold, their pirice and location. He mentioned an area he called "a hot market right now". Everyone was listening to him. He really seemed to know his stuff. Not that it makes a difference, but he also driove up in a full size Hummer. I know this area, and even before hearing his comments, was considering a NOO mailing to this area. It was kinda reassuring, because one of the questions I had about doing this is, do I really know my market? I think I know more than I think I know? Make sense? So I'm going to look up a few zip codes of some of the streets in that area, and do a mailing. Hopefully throw a little sh#@ against the wall and see if anything sticks..so to speak. I'm gonna buy a list, I figure it would save some leg work.. Thoughts and comments are "urged, appreciated, welcomed...you get the point. Humbly, Norm