All Forum Posts by: Jack Mize

Unfortunately SEO and Marketing strategies don't always work well together. I'll take quality traffic over quantity. I'd rather have less traffic that converts than a bunch of traffic that gets lost in overload of information. In my business of wholesaling when a motivated seller lands on my page I want the only options to be call me or fill out the submission form without being distracted or lured away by other pages.

Also the last thing I want is for a seller who found me on the internet to go back to my site and see their house being marketed for a higher price before I close with them. So I've found it better to keep my we buy houses and wholesale deal sites separate. Even with very few pages I've been able to stay in the top two spots on google for my targeted search terms for the last couple of years.

You are definitely on the right track. Great market. I have a site targeting a very similar market (exactly the same market actually) in Houston. I get over 1000 unique visitors per month at the moment and haven't touched the site in about 6 months.

You need to put a little relish on the sales message. Remember speak to their problems and provide a solution. They have to feel you understand their problem (bad credit, tight finance market, self employed) and that you are able to provide a solution (no credit check, easy qualification) whatever the benefits are to make it compelling enough to trade their info for a peek behind the curtain.

Not sure your business model but I know guys that are crushing it right now in the owner finance rent to own arena.

I would put your top three cities in the title tag rather than just oregon. Something like Beaverton | Portland | Hillsboro Rent To Own Homes.

I have a web site that I post my deals on. Interested buyers can subscribe to my list if they want to be alerted to new deals. Whenever I want to beef up my list I just post property ads to craigslist and backpage leading back to my website.

This has worked well for me. I do have my usual suspects that are repeat buyers but I also get folks that I've never met that have come out of nowhere to close with cash very fast.

Very popular search term if you go after "city owner financed houses" If you are planning to do this in your local area you should be pretty successful. I've done some tests with these key terms and it won't take long to get the traffic. You just need to decide how to monetize it (agent, advertising, note brokers, pay per listing etc..) There are a number of ways. If you are somewhat technical there are some decent scripts out there for this type of site like http://phprealestatescript.com.

If you are planning on going national, well that's a whole other animal.

Ok. My answers are blunt and may be abrasive to some but my goal is to give you the best answer I have. It doesn't mean I'm completely right or my way is "The Way", it's just what's worked for me.

As far as books and software, not sure. My stuff is kind of home grown.

First tip and biggest mistake the RE Agents and Investors make is answering this question.

What is the primary purpose of your web site?

Trick question. There is no primary purpose. There is only a Sole Purpose. That sole purpose is to brand yourself, generate a seller lead or sell a house. The three should never be attempted on the same web site.

You should have a we buy houses website a we sell houses web site and last (most folks do this first) a branding website.

Cyrus, your site seems to fall more in line with the branding site (you may have the others out there?). And that's ok because at least you recognized the need to get a presence on the web. Now it's time to turn up the heat and get your sole purpose sites out there.

Starting with we buy houses.
A one page site is perfect. Speak to their problems (divorce, inheritance, behind on payments) Provide a solution (We buy houses fast regardless of repairs. We'll make you an offer today) and the a call to action. Call xxx-xxx-xxxx for your cash offer today.

It looks like you can offer a lot. Your site is good for branding and should have links to lead gen sites for your services (Owner finance/lease option site); etc...

And so on. Hope it helps.

I have this happen regularly. The fact they took your low offer probably means they have no decent backups. Fact is you are going to have to eventually put up the money if you want the deal but when they try and play hardball I simply say "Fine, sell your dump to somebody else".

Chances are there is nobody else and if there is there are more deals around. Most bank foreclosures give you a 5-10 day inspection period in which you can terminate and get your earnest back. Double check and move forward.

I've been wholesaling using the internet for almost five years. I used to be the only game in town locally on line but it is growing. Real Estate investors are still behind the curve technologically. I know there are a lot of courses and software available but most RE Investors I know don't have a clue so I still have fairly low competition. It beats messing with bandit signs and door knocking hands down but is not the "autopilot" "flip houses in your sleep" that it's hyped to be in some courses. But it is without a doubt one of the most "hands off" ways to make money with real estate. I rarely look at a house that I wholesale. The internet let's me negotiate and sell from my computer and cell phone "for real".

I think one of the biggest mistakes new investors. Especially wholesalers make is to think anyone gives two flips about the name of their business. If you are a wholesaler you are actually in two business. Buying Houses and Selling Houses and the two marketing pieces should not be combined.

You should have one card that specifically lets motivated sellers know that you buy houses. Period. "Cash For Houses"

You should have another card for the RE Meetings letting rehabbers and landlords know that you sell houses "Wholesale Houses".

Do not get the laminated cards because they are tough to write on and cost more. Keep both on you. You never know which you are going to run into.

I've wholesaled a lot of deals that I've never seen. I let the buyers decide how much repair costs are involved because no two buyers are going to come up with same number. I used to go over properties and have contractors give me bids but soon found out it was a thankless task.

Real buyers couldn't care less what you think the ARV or repair estimates are. When I'm negotiating with the seller I use a rule of thumb that most houses need $8 to $15 a sqft in repair. I've generally come out pretty good estimating $10 a sqft on houses that I never see and my buy price generally affords me a decent wholesale fee.

I try to avoid looking at houses anymore. If I can get a contract negotiated over the phone then my potential buyers will let me know pretty quickly if my numbers are off and I can renegotiate from there.

I would never pay to have a property inspected that I am wholesaling. The buyer can do that if they like.

Hope it helps.