All Forum Posts by: Joe Salimao

Hi guys,
I recently bought a Canon laser printer to use for my direct mail campaigns and I bought some postcards to try out. Unfortunately, when I tried printing them the printer didn't do to well. It seemed that the printer was having a hard time grabbing them because the margins where so inconsistent. Some of the postcards had the beginning of the text all the way in the middle. I am thinking because I am using a glossy card stock that it is slipping in the roller.
For those of you who print your own postcards what do you use? I would use a mailer service but it is so much cheaper to do it yourself.
I currently use a Canon Imageclass printer and a 14 pt card stock with a glossy back.
Any ideas?
Joe Salimao

Justin,

Thanks for the info.

How do you do your postcards? Someone told me there are companies out there where you can just upload a list and they send them for you. Do you do this or do you buy postcards and print and mail them yourself?

What are the costs of mailing postcards vs letters?

What do you say on them? Are they standard or personalized to every person?

Thanks in advance...Joe Salimao

Hi guys,

Does anybody have any recommendations on a good book to use as a reference for estimating repairs?

Just something to use as a reference?

Thanks in advance,
Joe Salimao

Hi guys,
I have a direct mail marketing campaign underway but I keep going back and forth on which type of envelope to use. I have used a standard #10 and also and double window #9. The double window is convenient but looks like a bill and I am not sure this is a good thing. Also, I don’t like the way I have to format the letters to get it to fit in the double window. The #10 is ok but it takes forever to print the return and owner address on them and they look really plain.

What are you guys using? To you print your return address, use a label, have your envelopes pre-printed with your return address or something else? Also, I really don't want to hand write all of my envelopes...too many.

Have you guys had any luck with windowed envelopes or would you recommend against them? I was thinking of using a single window and using a return address label.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Joe Salimao

Hi guys,
I have a direct mail marketing campaign underway but I keep going back and forth on which type of envelope to use. I have used a standard #10 and also and double window #9. The double window is convenient but looks like a bill and I am not sure this is a good thing. Also, I don’t like the way I have to format the letters to get it to fit in the double window. The #10 is ok but it takes forever to print the return and owner address on them and they look really plain.

What are you guys using? To you print your return address, use a label, have your envelopes pre-printed with your return address or something else? Also, I really don't want to hand write all of my envelopes...too many.

Have you guys had any luck with windowed envelopes or would you recommend against them? I was thinking of using a single window and using a return address label.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Joe Salimao

Alida,
No they do not print them. It is just a program to help manage your mailings.

Hi Alida,
I actually just sent out some absentee owner letters. I purchased the list from Melissa Data and used RealProspect to manage the mailings for me. I love RealProspect because it makes mananging your mailing campaigns so easy. There is no thinking invloved.
Basically, you buy the list in a csv format and than do a little manipulation on the data (ie. seperate first and last name, etc). You then take that list and upload it directly into RealProspect and click print letters and it fills in all the information for each prospect. It is really cool.
I am not affiliated with this software at all just a user who thinks it is well worth the costs.
Not sure if I am allowed to post the link but I'll give it a try. They have a bunch of tutorials on thier website.
Good luck!

[AFFILIATE LINKS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON OUR SITE - REMOVED]

When you say commission is that the buyers and your realtors commission? I thought this was usually around 6%?

Also, if you do just a flat fee listing do you still have to pay 3% to the buyers realtor?

I actually have revised my plan a little. I have come 180 degrees back to starting out flipping and cherry picking the deals to keep in my portfolio. I recently hired a coach who has given me really good advice, which is to do some flips and lease-options to get some capital to work with and slowly build your rental portfolio.
I was originally looking at building the rental portfolio first so I would have consistent income before I went full-time. This would give me more confidence to leave my job. But I think that it is more practical to do things this way. After I get my new business plan together I will post it.
Thanks for all the input.