Calling agents to ask questions but they think I'm scamming?

Question

Like I said in the title, I'm trying to call around to get advice and to ask some specific questions about lead tracking, their economic model etc. but they think I'm a scammer? I didn't even know it was such a big thing to call agents to try and scam them (scamming for what, I still don't know). How can I get around this and gain their trust? Other than having them test my knowledge of the area, I can't think of any other way to get past their walls.

Jay Hinrichs · Answer

you want free and advice.. take them to lunch...

lunch is one of the cheapest forms of marketing you can get.

I had a very quick stint at trying to sell dental chairs and delivery system equipment when I was fresh out of highschool and right before I got my RE license.

I still remember the owner of the company taking out his credit card and making a big point of it and buying lunch as one of the best forms of marketing.

Evan Cotten · Answer

Christopher, I'm looking for the I-wish-I-would've-known-that-sooner information. I have the technical info that I'll need for now, the meat/potatoes of lead generating, tracking etc. I'm not going to waste peoples time by asking what a listing is or vague questions like "how do I succeed". What eludes me are the subtleties. I want to know what I might miss at my age and experience. What you are learning now after ____ years in the business. Things like that if you get what I'm saying.

Jay, I figured it would be less time consuming to talk over the phone but it is a lot more genuine and shows real motivation if you meet them in person and buy their lunch. Thanks for helping me realize that.

Christopher Phillips · Answer

Agents deal with constant scams. One lately is from someone claiming they are trying to buy a house for cash from their home country but need help dealing with transfers and such in an attempt to create a wire fraud setup.

What exactly are you asking?

Jay Hinrichs · Answer

@Steve Milford  you ever sell any of our stuff..... Silverado,,,, Nylund et al.

Christopher Phillips · Answer

@Evan Cotten What you're asking does make sense. Any good agent is more than happy to sit down and have lunch or coffee to talk about the business and how they can help get you going. The agent will also be a great resource for putting you in contact with vendors/contractors/lenders.

Yes, there are subtleties for each market. So, you want to build your network of people you can trust to give you straight answers.

Another good way would be to join a local REIA, or at least attend a meeting or two. Another would be to attend local real estate investment club meetings. Many are on Meetup.com. You can casually attend for a meeting or two and meet others from the same area that you plan to invest in.

Steve Milford · Answer

And here is my business model: My seller listing fees are less than my competition (I will beat any quoted fee), I help any buyer or seller that asks - yet they must make some effort, and I believe in providing awesome service.

Steve Milford · Answer

Here is the problem with your request. It is 100% one-sided.

I took a risk in getting my license and then spending money on my lead generation. Why should I just give you that knowledge or answers in a series of questions? That is a waste of my time. Now look, I love helping people and giving away tools so that they can help themselves, but you need to put some skin in the game. I do it free here, yet I learn as well so it works for me. Don't think of it as time - Realtors don't have "enough" time anyways. I have 100s of training videos I should watch, etc. My favorite activity in my email box is to delete. But if I can learn something new or get to know someone new that may refer me in the future - I am 100% on-board, sign me up. And remember we Realtors are bombarded with "offers". I don't need offers from unrelated people, I need to meet people that can help me with my business. I get a call every day asking my to buy more advertising. Now buy me lunch? I can share what I know, and I do it because I know that 95% of those that I meet won't do anything with it. But it might help someone.

It is no different when lenders want to be on my "preferred list" or tell me that they want to co-market. Yet, I don't refer any lender or mortgage officer unless I have their cell phone number and they can answer questions in the evening and on the weekends. That is when I do my business. Want to co-market? Then we meet. If you are a lender and don't want to be bothered, or are too busy - then you don't need my referrals.

I met my GFs brother recently and he was interested in real estate, investing, and getting a "good deal". I couldn't help but laugh. He wanted to know how to get a good foreclosed property first. I asked him if he has $25k liquid, as he was going to need that minimum to turn a house appropriately, in addition to the cost of acquiring the property and exiting from it. There was a "No" for that answer, so I suggested that he get involved here. He said that he reads religiously, then I told him to go get his license, and I will recommend him to my principal to hang it. Drum roll - no movement since. I can help you find the answers, although you need to step out from behind the computer and do some work. And yes it is work.

For lead generation, study any profession that requires cold-prospecting like Network Marketing. You will learn tons, and you will learn even more once you try methods, A/B test with your wallet, and analyze the data. No leads from effort is still data.

Also, age doesn't matter here. I am technically "late to the game," yet I have very active conversations when I get to meetings. I don't assume that I know any better than anyone else although I just am willing to step into any mess and help someone figure it out. And I have learned lots in the process. My favorite is showing people how to spend LESS money to get what they want.

Calling agents to ask questions but they think I'm scamming?

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