What's your ice breaker into a foreclosure?

[Trevor Bingham]

I found someone I know on RealtyTrac.com indicating their house is near foreclosure or in it. I've been struggling the last few days trying to decide how to bring it up. I want to buy the place but I'm not sure on the best verbiage to break the ice. What is your protocol for contacting owners in a foreclosure situation? 

[Jay Hinrichs]

Originally posted by @William B.:

You need to think like a salesperson, connect with them on a personal level, if you can connect on an emotionally positive level you will win every time. Here is an example for a way to speak with someone if you are door knocking:

Hi, Mr. Doe, my name is ________, I’m a local real estate expert, hopefully, I am not disrupting anything, I’ll be real quick. I’m not sure if this applies to you, but perhaps you know someone who it might apply to. I provide ethical and compassionate solutions to problems with real estate. If you know someone interested in selling their home, or someone that is struggling to make their house payments, or they owe more on their house than what it’s worth, I can help. So, I’ll let you go, just want to get this in your hands (pass a flyer/door hanger/business card) – if you know a friend, family member, co-worker, neighbor, please tell them to go to the website on here, to learn more about some options they have to sell or get out from underneath their homes, help their family, clear the burden, find relief, and save their credit. Thanks for your time Mr.Doe, enjoy the rest of your evening.”

although in reality if they are in foreclosure their credit is trashed..   and in Oregon you need to be a licensed foreclosure consultant to approach people like that..  that's why we got out of it when the laws in Wa and OR were passed.. WA is the same way.. too much risk.. 

I believe you can just say I want to buy your home .. but any type of consulting or help I think crosses the line..