Lynnwood, WA · Member since 2015 · 32 posts · 5 votes
I've done my fair share of research (of course, the researching never ends) but I want to put my foot out the door and get started. I've met with a mentor and he's advised me to actually get out and start trying to find myself a contract.
What would be the best route to find myself one? I want to learn how to make a direct mailers list, or drive for dollars, or any type of strategy to get sellers interested in working with me.
Can I drive around, find a potential home, write the address down and mail them a letter? What should be put on the letter?
I also want to make sure I am speaking the language they need to hear and give them what they want to hear and get their questions answered correctly.
You can find contracts in the File section on BP. Sometimes you may find one specific for your target state. Either way, I recommend you have a contract looked over by a an Attorney (better to be safe than sorry) to make sure everything is on the up and up.
As for marketing: Direct mail basic exactly what it sounds like, mailing directly to targeted owners. You can find volumes of information on direct mail campaigns here on BP and just by doing a simple google search for Direct Mail and/or Yellow Letters. You can purchase lists from places like Listsource or Melissa Data... both allow you to break your search down to targeted areas (zip codes, city, state) or people (Absentee owners, in or out of state owners). Again, tons of info here on BP.
Driving for dollars is exactly what you said. You hop in your car, pick an area of town and write down addresses of homes that catch your eye (boarded up homes, dilapidated homes, high grass, notices on doors/windows etc)
All in all, each strategy has its advantage and disadvantage. Once you have a list of addresses, you want to do as much research on the homes as possible. Once that is done and your list has been scrubbed with whom you'd like to contact, it's time to get the letters in the mail. Your letters or post cards can say anything you want. You can write them yourself or outsource them via another company... again, these companies and information can be learned about here on BP or googling as much as possible.
The best advice I can tell you is remembering your own words: Researching never ends.