Finding motivated sellers (my list)

Finding motivated sellers (my list)

Davenport , IA · Member since 2011 · 213 posts · 265 votes

Hey guys, over time I have taken lots of ideas from BP on finding motivated sellers. I compiled a list and am sharing it back with BP members. Enjoy!

Hey guys, over time I have taken lots of ideas from BP on finding motivated sellers. I compiled a list and am sharing it back with BP members. Its nothing new, just my list.... hope it helps a new person out.

1. Tired landlords
a. List of eviction court attendants
b. Mailers to Out of state landlords
c. Mailers to Landlords who own more than one property with back taxes
d. Mailers to Landlords who own tax delinquent multi-family properties
e. Buy a “leads list” of landlords from: (www.realquest.com)

2. Mailers to Property owners whose assessment went way up this year
3. Mailers to Properties that were owned by known investors who went out of business
4. Mailers to out of state landlords/Owners of multifamily houses
5. Mailers to Tax delinquent homeowners
6. Place “We Buy houses” flyers/business cards at unemployment offices….a lot of people there could be having trouble with their homes and may need a solution
7. One-page Flyers posted on bulletin boards at large stores
8. Mailers to Vacant land owners (only in specific areas where development is ideal)
9. Using Craigslist to find sellers:
a. Post ad that states, “We Buy houses”
b. Send emails to craigslist ads with apartments for rent (the emails go to landlords who may be looking to sell, or buying more properties)
10. Mailers to specific zip codes (preferably low income neighborhoods) asking if they want to sell or know someone who does
11. Mailers to People getting divorced
12. Mailers to Divorce Attorneys who can refer clients to us
13. Mailers/emails to FSBOs
14. Send mailers to expired MLS Listings
15. Post ad on www.Backpage.com: We buy houses
16. Send mailers to properties purchased between 3k-20k within last five years (owner might be wanna-be flipper who did nothing with property)
17. Send mailers to estate Executors/Administrators
18. Send mailers to Estate/Probate Attorneys (consider having my attorney send letter, business cards to Estate attorneys because attorneys always open mail from other attorneys)
19. Bandit signs: We buy houses
20. Big Baller marketing: TV, billboards, radio ads
21. Send mailers to Out of state owner who have owned for more than x years (more than 30 years, so you know its free and clear meaning they will be more flexible with sales price)
22. Send mailers to Building code violators
23. Send mailers to Health code violators
24. Send mailers to people facing foreclosure
25. Purchase leads lists of folks who inherited homes
26. Send mailers to people making double payments (bought a new house, REALLY want to sell old house)
27. Target people who have been transferred (job) and must sell NOW
28. Target people with medical problems / health issues who cannot keep their houses
29. Target who own vacant homes
30. Target people who are having financial chaos of any sort
31. Target people who are 30-60 day late on mortgage lists
32. Send ads/ mailers/business cards to Credit Repair Agencies & Credit Counselors
33. Target HUD/VA Foreclosures
34. Send mailers to people arrested for violent crimes (going to prison for a long time)
35. Send Mailers/ads/business cards to Realtors
36. Send mailers to employees who have been laid off (ie “corporate downsizing” in the news)
37. Networking with other investors, ACRE
38. Locate list of section 8 approved properties—send mailers to the owners
39. Post Newspaper classified ads: We Buys houses
40. Send mailers to Properties with liens: Mechanics Liens, HOA Liens, Tax Liens
41. Contact sales people at new home subdivisions (their clients will want to sell their OLD houses) (or place signs near new home subdivisions that say "Sell Your House Fast" with your phone number….they will want to sell their old house ASAP)
42. Contact mortgage companies; they may know of people wanting to sell their old house/last house
43. Hire bird dogs (sometimes even through craigslist “help wanted” ads)
44. Send mailers to Bankruptcy court listings
45. Send advertisements, business cards to Accountants and CPA Firms: They have clients with financial problems where an investor can be of help.
46. Send ads, mailers, business cards to real estate attorneys
47. Advertise using Apparel with Logos: Hats, T-Shirts, Golf Shirts,
48. Send to anyone getting their car repossessed: If the car is going the house isn’t far behind.
49. Send ads, business cards to carpet cleaners: Many of their customers are preparing a house for sale.
50. Consider sending mailers to charitable groups/churches: They frequently receive gifts of real estate, but they’d rather have the cash
51. Send ads, business cards to City & County Inspectors: Code violations and red tags. (If you develop a reputation of buying distressed properties and improving them, you become an asset to the
52. Community)
53. Send ads to Large Employers (HR departments): Let them know you buy properties because if they need to transfer an employee, they don’t get stuck carrying the house. This can be good for renting
54. executive properties for short-term transferees, too.
55. Place ads on boards at Nursing & Retirement Homes: Frequently residents need to sell a house.
56. Consider placing Door Hangers on target properties: You can also use pre-printed post-it notes to leave messages at target properties. Be sure to advertise on both sides, you can even sell the back side
57. and recover your advertising cost!
58. Send mailers to addresses having Garage Sales: Are they moving?
59. Send mailers to Hair Salons/Barbers: A social hub! Lots of talking going on during haircuts!
60. Send mailers, ads, business cards to Insurance Brokers: Policy changes from owner occupant to landlord or vacant house coverage.
61. Recruit Mail Carriers to notify you of vacant properties
62. Send mailers to Owner of multiple properties (target them to offload portfolios)
63. Post advertisement in PennySaver type papers: We Buy houses
64. Send mailers to Water, Gas, and electric company shut off lists
65. Or, just buy leads from:

a. www.Listsource.com
b. www.USLeadsList.com
c. www.MelissaData.com
d. www.propertyleadsnow.com
e. www.foreclosuredata.com
f. www.Wehavehomeleads.com

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Most Popular Reply

Flipper/Rehabber · Bakersfield, CA · Member since 2008 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
14y

Here is my list.

I don't think you need to do anything but two things. The reality is that finding motivated prospects is a rather simple concept. You don't need to hang signs or mail letters. All you have to do is.

1). Speak to everyone you know about who they know who needs to sell, and

2). Speak to everyone else. All of those people you come into contact with daily and ask them if they are thinking of selling or know someone who is.

Problem is that most of us don't ask for referrals or ask for business.

See this reply in the discussion

139 Replies

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  • Davenport , IA · Member since 2011 · 213 posts · 265 votes
    13y

    Morris Lucas I did not target specific zip codes when i did these mailers. In the future that might be different. I am readjusting my game plan currently.

    Eric Benzenhoefer You can search for the websites yourself (as the keyword) in the upper right hand corner of your screen. That will bring up the results/comments/recommendations for each one so you will be in a position to make an informed decision. I hope this helps.

  • Rental Property Investor · Houston, TX · Member since 2013 · 233 posts · 39 votes
    13y

    Kenneth E. Thank you for the response, but that is not exactly what I was looking for. It may have been due to a poor explanation, so let me clarify.

    I am looking for the specific real estate term that is a website or company that sells leads to wholesalers.

    For example, if I was looking for people who are ready to sell their house at a discount, knowing that the term is "motivated seller" would make all the difference in a search in google or bigger pockets.

    and again, if I wanted to know how to find people who sold houses to investors, knowing that the term is "wholesaler" would make all the difference.

    Does that clarify what I was looking for?

  • Investor · Billings, MT · Member since 2012 · 77 posts · 23 votes
    13y

    What a fantastic list!

  • Investor · Mission Viejo, CA · Member since 2012 · 627 posts · 204 votes
    13y

    Yes, that is a nice list.

    It strikes me that all of those things are a great deal of work, so how much is made, and how many hours are worked?

  • Davenport , IA · Member since 2011 · 213 posts · 265 votes
    13y

    Thanks Tiffany. Now, GO MAKE MONEY WITH IT! :)

    Stephen, that is a very, very broad question. The amount of work varies.... and the amount of profit also varies. It depends on how good you are at minimizing effort and maximizing profit. :)

  • Flooring Contractor · Pensacola, FL · Member since 2013 · 6 posts · 0 votes
    13y
    Great info, as a newbie I definitely appreciate your willingness to share!
  • Wholesaler · Des Moines, IA · Member since 2013 · 19 posts · 3 votes
    13y

    Late to the party but awesome list Kenneth. I especially liked the "Car Repossession" tip. Never would have put two and two together on that one myself. Great contribution to people like myself just starting out

  • Davenport , IA · Member since 2011 · 213 posts · 265 votes
    13y

    No problem Derek. Since I see you are from Iowa (my home state) so I will post this website on here for you as another resource: http://beacon.schneidercorp.com

    It shows real estate records for several states including Iowa. Some counties are on there while others are not. Maybe your is.....check it out. If so, type in your address and see what you can find out! Good luck

  • Wholesaler · Byron , GA · Member since 2013 · 46 posts · 9 votes
    13y

    @Kenneth E. Badass list Sir! Much appreciated.

  • Philly Area, PA · Member since 2008 · 297 posts · 27 votes
    13y
    Amazing info! Thanks Rocco
  • Davenport , IA · Member since 2011 · 213 posts · 265 votes
    13y

    You are welcome Rocco. Now, go make some money with it!

  • Wilmington, NC · Member since 2011 · 160 posts · 1 vote
    13y

    @Kenneth E. this is so helpful. I appreciate you taking the time to enlightens us newbies. I just posted a question that maybe you can answer. I am now working with a REA that has sent me a 90 day Cash sold property list. The goal is for me to obtain the Buyer to build my Buyers list. The information only list the name of the buyer. How can I acquire the Buyers email address and phone number? Can you refer a site where I wont have to pay a fee?

  • Long Beach, CA · Member since 2013 · 8 posts · 0 votes
    13y

    I agree. Thank you so much Kenneth E.

  • Davenport , IA · Member since 2011 · 213 posts · 265 votes
    12y

    You guys are welcome. Glad you like the list. It really is a result of basically searching google for ways of finding motivated sellers. : )

    Ken

  • Real Estate Agent · Santa Barbara, CA · Member since 2013 · 49 posts · 14 votes
    12y

    Hi Kenneth E. - Many thanks for your generous contribution! Question: which of these sources has worked best for you? Alexandra

  • Residential Real Estate Agent · Cookeville, TN · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 948 votes
    12y

    @Kenneth E. - That is an awesome list. But how about active listings on the MLS? That's where most of my deals have come from. The best way is to search by keywords. Those keywords could include:

    REO

    Bank owned

    TLC

    Short Sale

    Vacant

    Motivated

    Divorce

    fixer or fixer-upper

    foreclosure

    must sell

    make offer

    estate

    there's probably a bunch more, but that's a start.

  • Real Estate Agent · Indio, CA · Member since 2013 · 10 posts · 3 votes
    12y
    Great list! Thanks for sharing it forward.
  • Contractor · Lees Summit, MO · Member since 2013 · 11 posts · 4 votes
    12y
    Great list! Thanks for sharing.
  • Real Estate Investor · Memphis, TN · Member since 2011 · 4 posts · 1 vote
    12y
    Fantastic info! Is there a way to follow this discussion?
  • Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    12y
    Originally posted by @Bernadette N.:
    Fantastic info! Is there a way to follow this discussion?

    Select the "Monitor Topic" button at the top of the page and you will be notified of any additional posts to the topic.

  • Rental Property Investor · Memphis, TN · Member since 2011 · 111 posts · 40 votes
    12y

    Great list! I hope we all make some money off of it!

    So what will be in your next list? :)

    Kevin

  • Real Estate Agent · Orem, UT · Member since 2012 · 164 posts · 49 votes
    12y

    Super list for the beginner (or experienced) investor. Defnintely one to print out and save in the REI file

  • Davenport , IA · Member since 2011 · 213 posts · 265 votes
    12y

    Brian L great point. When I first started gathering that list I tended to focus away from the MLS since that is where everyone (and their brother) look for leads. I dont really like competition and tried gathering as many non-MLS strategies that I could.

    Having said that, I would recommend that investors use all methods and have as many strategies that they can feasibly handle--including the MLS.

    So, do as I say. NOT as I do. :)

    To the rest of you: Thanks for the comments and votes.

    NOW, GO MAKE MONEY!

  • Real Estate Investor · Memphis, TN · Member since 2014 · 13 posts · 6 votes
    12y

    @Kenneth E. Wow!! This is amazing! Thank you so much for putting this together!

  • Real Estate Investor · Memphis, TN · Member since 2011 · 4 posts · 1 vote
    12y

    Thanks Steve, I appreciate it!

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