BiggerPockets

Ive scanned through and posted many a question on probate marketing and I feel as though answers are very vague...

My main questions are:
-How long is ideal to wait after the estate is posted to mail? instantly? 1 month?
- What are pros and cons of postcards vs. letters
- What types of wording do you use to handle these delicate situations?

Thanks

I've been interested in targetting probate properties for a long time and have studied up on them quite a bit. I got to tell you though, there really isn't much good detailed info about them.

I've tried mailing probates once the heirs actually take possession of the property since I can see when that happens online at my county recorders website but I haven't had any luck with that compared to the mailings I've done for other types of properties.

I'm starting to lean towards the idea of trying to get in contact with the heirs once the case is filed with the probate court. Unfortunately, since most county probate courts aren't allowed to have their records online that means physically having to go to the probate court and looking them up. Doing that everyday probably won't work but I think going there about once a week should be doable.

A lot of people have questions a long those lines about probate mailings and direct mail in generaal

This is what you should do....get the newspaper in your area and read the obituaries....and...no...Im jk....NEVER do that

There is no direct science in determining when you should or should not mail. Your mail will effect people in different ways and there is no way to make everybody happy.

I recommend you mail once when you get the file from the probate court and then one letter every other month for 3 months after...

That way you do no bombard people but you also keep yourself in front of them...

Be sincere and genuine in your letters and it will go a long way...

remember life is a parade with many different changes a long the way so just get those letters out there...

it could be that third letter that gets you the deal and you make 20K on a quick flip :)

good luck!

I guess one of the problems with the data that I have access to is it does not list whether they owned property or not.

So I was just going to mail to them all.

Hey Matt,
I'm new to the business and have been sending out probate letters for about 5 months and no deals. I've only been sending them one letter, not every month or so like you suggest. Why do you think it's better to mail every month? I was meeting with a PR last week and she pulled out another investors letter. She said, "These letters must all be standard" I got a kick out of that.
What about mailing to probate attorney's? Another investor told me he was getting a ton of leads by having an attorney he's done business with write him a referral and send that out to the probate attorney's. Can't hurt to try.
See ya

John