Remove Me From Your List?

Question

I have started a small direct mail campaign targeting landlords who have recently filed an eviction. Luckily, I am easily able to get the owners name and address, and often times, their phone number and email address.

My plan was to send out the first letter, wait 2 weeks, and then send out another letter followed up shortly by a text message (I am currently at this point). After that, I would send them one more letter 3 weeks later, followed up shortly by an email.

My question is, when do I take someone off of my list? If someone tells me that they are not interested in selling their house, should I take them off my list? What about if they specifically ask to be removed from my list?

My current thought is that I would keep sending them letters regardless of what they ask, in case they change their mind, but if they specifically ask me not to text or email them again, I would comply with their request. What are your thoughts?

Michael S. · Answer

We get mailed letters all the time asking if we want to sell our REI property.  They promptly get put in the circular file.  But they are not bothersome, as they are not "intrusive" on day to day life (I look at the mail when convenient - it does not interrupt my day to day life).

However, I would have zero tolerance if someone starting texting me unsolicited about selling the property;  on principal, they would be the last person I would ever sell the property to.  Something to consider.

Sylvia B. · Answer

You're going to contact them 5 times in 5 weeks? That's crazy! Like Michael said, you would be the last person I'd sell to! And if you kept contacting me after I asked to be removed from your list, you shouldn't be surprised if I punched you in the nose if we ever met.

Michael S. · Answer

Account Closed Receiving a text message in the middle of a meeting, workday or even spending time with the family is a distraction.  Many text messages I receive for work may be of the urgent nature - simply ignoring them is not an option.  If someone needs me quickly, they don't mail me a letter or even email expecting an immediate answer, they typically call or text.  I'm not sure what is "curious" about this.

G.A. Miller · Answer

I've always taught my team that there's a thin line between persistence and annoyance. We want to be just on the good side of that line. Many people appreciate and respect a persistent, diligent professional. Very few want anything to do with an annoying one.

If you're being asked to remove names from your list, just remove them. You can have a conversation with the individual to determine why they may not be open to working with you, and that's where you have the opportunity for conversion. If they're simply a "no", there's no point in pestering them-to continue to do so at this point now risks tarnishing your reputation in their eyes and anyone they speak to about it will know. Take the opportunity to thank them for the time they did give you, and show your persistence by offering to contact them again in a set period of time. If they're receptive, great; if not, no worries.

Michael S. · Answer

@Thomas Garza - I find out about off-market properties through connections I have made in the real estate world, and even my W-2 world (for those who know I do REI in my W-2 world - not everyone does for various reasons).  I don't do any mailings whatsoever.

Account Closed · Answer

So, you admit to receiving text messages, urgent or not and will always look. Certainly you've developed the skill of being able to glance to see if it is "urgent" or can wait. You are going to do that anyway.

While I agree that an unsolicited text messages is a nuisance, there is a "Block this caller" feature you can use (and I do, it cuts down on text messages).

Your actual argument should be "I pay for the phone service and I resent people using up resources I have paid for", is more compelling.

Account Closed · Answer

What is the difference between the two? Why the animosity against texts but not mailers? A wasted mailing piece kills a tree and goes to land fill. A text doesn't pollute. A mailing piece requires you to take physical action by removing it from the mail box and throwing it into the trash. A text can be ignored. It's a big hassle to write a letter and has the costs of the paper, envelope, stamp and time to get someone to take you off their mailing list but a mere "Stop" stops future texts. You are a curious creature.

Thomas Garza · Answer

@Jonathan G., it sounds like we are on the same page. As I said in my original post, my current thought is that I would keep sending them letters regardless of what they ask, in case they change their mind, but if they specifically ask me not to text or email them again, I would comply with their request. That means that I would not keep calling and texting them after they have asked me to stop.

I'm realizing that I should have probably clarified my question better. What I was really asking is if I should continue to send them mailers, not text messages or emails.

Sean Rana · Answer

@Thomas Garza Firstly, if you have the landlord’s number, it’s best to just call them up and see if they “work” for you in the first place. Fill your pipeline and try to hit as many leads as possible. From that point on, if they do ask you to stop bothering them, you should respect their decision, ask for a referral, and see if it’s appropriate to call them back later(maybe a month or two later). But if they are really annoyed, it’s best to respect that and move on.

Jonathan Anderson · Answer

This has happened to me quite a bit and what you have to do is respect their wishes. If you keep sending mail to someone that specifically told you to stop or remove them from your list then you are harassing them and soliciting. Usually how it is for me I send out 200 mailers and will get 1 or 2 people to tell me to leave them alone and that is fine with me because I have 198 people and if 3% of them are interested in selling well thats 6 deals I get.

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