All Forum Posts by: Doug Haisten

I commented in another website about asking a couple of friends of mine that through the day are working in neighborhoods to let me know if they see any vacant or distressed properties. In return I'd give them $10 or so for each lead ( these are people I know well and would explain what to look for). They would not contact the homeowner, not look up any information on the property, not represent me in any way merely report a house on 123 Main Street looks to be vacant. I was hot with a barrage (helpful) that I would be breaking the law unless I and/or he had a real estate license. I'm certainly no exert in this area so any helpful comments to keep my cart out of the ditch would be helpful.

Doug

Jerryll:

As I am just starting out planting my field I know some of my efforts will take some time to produce fruits, such ad DM. As I drive around and see stressed houses I feel I need to go after these especially the vacant stressed houses in the right neighborhoods. I have seen many recommend alternate sources for leads (3 or more). I want to keep on with DM and want to get a lead generating web site. The third I can see D4$ as one but work in something like probates.

@Jerryll Noorden Thank you for your reply and I emphasis my initial statement about not knowing much about SEO other than i do know what it is and the difference between what SEO is and what a company that does SEO. What I don't know is the things that has to be done to increase my standing. I guess what I should say is there value in getting a company that builds these website templates (that I spend an hour customizing to my use) and promotes or guides me through the SEO process.  

I did a search "sell house quickly in Connecticut" and your page is found high up on the 1st page. How long did it take to get that high ranking? I see your site is Investor Carrot, one source I am looking at using. Did you have to use some company outside of IC  ("paid traffic")?

Doug

Background: Recent changes to my 9-5 job (laid off) finds me with time and opportunity to go all ahead in RE. I had already sent out a direct mail piece (my first) and got a good response. These were out of state absentee owners. I am poised to send out my second and third, etc. going for the 5-7 touches.

Looking for something a bit faster (?) and looking for another channel for leads I have started Driving 4 Dollars. I am curious what information I need to gather at the property? Certainly the address but should I write down information about the house such as vacant or in need of repair (like tree fallen through the roof of a vacant house, or another vacant house I saw with a general run down appearance and a large tarp over the roof). Do I take a picture of the house. My thought is for house just vacant with so so appearance and/or maintenance I might be dealing with a land lord and thus send a letter rather than a card appealing to the owner that might want to get out of the rental "business" or at least this property and the maintenance headaches while a letter to the owner of a house with a tree through the roof may not want the hassles of repairs, etc and get a different letter. Also, does anyone take pictures of the houses and maybe send those with a letter if it helps convey the idea of selling? I guess the point of my post is we need to look for the urgent need of the house owner that we can solve for them. I may be way out in left field in what I am thinking.  

Also, if the name of the owners and their phone number is obtained does anyone personally call (with or without an preliminary letter?

Doug

5 calls on 50 letters, 10%?

I don't disagree with what you say so do investors just run the risk posting these. It seems that over the last couple of years there are more and more signs albeit higher and higher up the telephone poles. I read some put the signs out on Friday afternoon and pick them back up on Sunday evening.

I really don't know much about SEO but do know that time I spend on working on SEO is time spent away from making deals. I have seen numerous companies (investors themselves??) that espouse to provide a lead generating package that provides the support or takes me through "uping" my ranking. Are these worth while? Currently I send out mailers and starting Driving for Dollars. A website could be a 24/7 lead machine.  

Today I was told, second hand, that a person was able to buy a house from Medicaid at a really low price that Medicaid had a lien on. I Googled Medicaid liens and didn't see anywhere that Medicaid actually sells these properties. Does anyone know how when circumstancs are that Medicaid does take possesion of a house (no living heirs?)  how they get rid these properties?

Doug 

12,000 addresses? What segment of the market are you targeting i.e. absentee owners with >than 70% equity in SFR or condo's, or pre foreclosure etc.?

Dam

@Damien Dupee when you say "cold call" do you mean door knocking? I used to door knock many years ago selling insurance and that's a hard row to hoe. In the age of internet, email, direct mail, face book etc. is this something investors do?