Building up my buyers list

Im having trouble building up my buyers list. I have read to look for " We Buy Homes" signs in my neighborhood or city, but I haven't found any. And when I do I call the number and they don't want to deal with the middle man or in my case woman :mrgreen: Am I doing something wrong or saying something wrong? Also I have been finding a lot of FSBO in craigslist, is this o.k? I shouldn't have any problems to find them in NYC, theres always someone moving in out or around. But do anyone have other way to look for them?

Another thing. I read to get a MLS from an real estate agent. Does it have to be someone you do personal business with or can you go in any company and ask for the list? If so how much will it cost and any question would they ask that I would have to answer?

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:59AM

Jason Cummins

Real Estate Investor · Katy, Texas

430 posts
32 Influence
2 Awards

Icon_minipost Apr 04 '08, 12:30 AM

Creating and maintaining your buyers list is just as important and just as hard as getting motivated callers to call you. It's hard work!

Here are a couple tips to help build it. 1. Go to your local rei clubs. Talk to the rehabbers and landlords and tell them what you do. They may want to be added to your buyers list. 2. Free ads on sites such as craigslist that explain what you do and that you are looking for rehabbers and landlords to buy your extremely underpriced properties. 3. PLace your own signs around town that say something to the effect of " I sell CHEAP houses, DEEP discounts, phone number" 4. You can place an ad in your paper or local " penny saver" that says something to the same effect as the sign. " I sell houses with DEEP discounts"

Any good real estate agent will send you a list of homes on the MLS, and you should never pay for it. Justr contact a few in your area.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:59AM

Ramon Owens

Real Estate Investor · Houston, TX

8 posts
1 Award

Icon_minipost Apr 12 '08, 04:28 AM

I see that you are just starting off so my advice to you is " Just go out and buy a property" and it is like clock work from there.This is how I started.I did everything that you did and it was a complete " waste of time'.So instead of " looking for customers" I " Became one" this is the best start if you want a deal you have to go out and find the worst looking house that you can find location does not matter either.You may have some rehab cost but consider this " The cost of doing business" after you have completed the work post an add in your local paper that just simply says " Newly renovated house will work with any buyer" and just sit back and watch the vultures come.Where you went wrong is that you did not think aout " who" your customer is it is called your " Target Market" and starting off it is other " Investors" .The " WE BUY HOUSES" market is " flooded" and you dont have the resources to compete first time out.So follow this and you should be good.

GET THAT MONEY MAN!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 05:02AM

Brendan D.

Real Estate Investor

63 posts
67 Influence

Icon_minipost Apr 12 '08, 08:08 AM

in my experience, the best way to build a buyer's list is to actually have deals. over the last few years, investors have been getting spammed with crap deals. I know i have been and i've gotten off alot of " wholesalers" buyers lists. focusing on finding deals, get connected with your local investors group and present the deals there and the investors will find you!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 05:02AM

Lex Coving

Real Estate Consultant · Pittsburgh, PA

1 post

Icon_minipost Apr 14 '08, 05:46 AM

You know, I just read an article on list building, I was going to give you the site address so you could check it out, but I haven't made enough posts on this forum yet to do that, so I copied the whole thing and pasted it here. Hope this helps a bit:

[POST EDITED BY ADMIN - You may not post articles from other sites without the permission of the author. While the post was helpful, we do care about copyright and work hard to protect both ours and that of others.]

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 05:02AM

John Schroeder

Real Estate Investor · Sarasota, Florida

14 posts
52 Influence
1 Award

Icon_minipost Apr 15 '08, 01:16 AM

I agree with " ramon6001" and " paidwell" ... the best way to build a list is to start by selling a house, or advertising that you sell houses cheap...

House Hunters
We'll find you a house!
You name the price!
555-555-5555

*or something like that

When I stared back in 2001 I figured out on my own that calling the other investors signs and asking them to put me on their buyers list worked well... it also gave me a chance to network myself and learn some things.

Now what I tell people to do is put an ad in the classifieds and build it from there.

[NOTE: the following is not to attract other investors, this is to build a retail buyer list... like paidwell mentions you only want to present good equity/profitable deals to local investors]

Start by selling your own house? But perhaps dont actually sell it? You will have to check that one on your own morality meter... but if you offer a house for sale, then when the buyers call its no longer available (???)...

" Im sorry that one is no longer available, however we are always finding houses at great prices all over the city... would you like me to add you to my list and call you if I find something that meets your needs?"

- Where
- How much down
- Monthly payment
- Credit score
- etc.

Now you have a shopping list to go and find the property that fits. Its much easier to find a house for a buyer, then a buyer for a house.

I hope this helps... good luck!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 05:03AM