Share property photo in an inquiry letter??

Question

Hi all!

Total newbie here.  I've got my eye on a few neglected properties in my area and the owners are out of state.  Im going to send inquiry letters to them and Im trying to decide if I should attach a photo of the house to the letter.  Would that be helpful to the owner, seem professional, or just be creepy?  Itd just be a single exterior shot.

Thanks!!

Krista Cox · Answer

@Frank Luna Great point.  Thankfully, I am sure these houses are vacant so I won't have to worry about that.

Krista Cox · Answer

Thanks for the feedback guys! I ended up mailing the 3 letters with a "Cover image".  We'll see how they respond.

Mark H. · Answer

I think I would be more inclined to try a genuinely handwritten letter.  I know when I go through my email anything looking like a solicitation gets junked without reading.

Braden C. · Answer

@Krista Cox Some people are already put off that you can pull their mailing address from public records, putting a picture might send someone over the top. A few years ago the google street postcards were really popular for a very brief period. We never sent any but I am sure the amount of angry calls to the companies sending them was very high. Like @Frank Luna said, some people just live in a neglected house and it could be taken as insulting.

Matt Ziegler · Answer

Try one(some) with pictures and some without. See which gets a response.

We have been trying several different types of "Yellow letters" and are tracking to see if one style is is more effective.

Best of luck!

Frank Luna · Answer

@Krista Cox that is to say if I lived in the neglected house I’d be creeped out.

Frank Luna · Answer

@Krista Cox if I lived I the neglected house and received that I believe I’d feel violated and creeped out. If the house is actually vacant I wouldn’t mind so much. If you took the time to send the photo to identify I may think your serious and take the time to reply.