All Forum Posts by: Jeff G.

Is it possible, maybe.

Honestly, wholesaling takes a lot of time. You have to market, which takes time: cold calling CL ads, cold calling listing agents who list rentals to see if the owners they represent are in a mood to sell, sending misc. mailers you print yourself because you have a lead but no number to call. You also have to answer your phone every time it rings. That's how wholesalers get deals. It's also how we get cursed at in ways that would make a sailor blush. But hey, it's a good living if you can get through those calls and on the phone with motivated sellers.

In that context, I'm not sure that wholesaling is the best approach if you're active duty and in a different time zone. 

My two cents: a different strategy is probably best for you in the short term. When you're out, give wholesaling a try.

Now, you might consider a VA loan to buy rentals with... wash, rinse repeat. Someone on the BP podcast talked about that within the past year. Sadly, I can't recall the guest's name or the episode number.

@Paul Amegatcher

I don't have any current ads. Here is a fairly good approximation of the sorts of ads I've posted in the past. Please let me know your thoughts?

Would you like to make an extra $500... $1,000... maybe more?

I'm a real estate investor in the [city] area. I'm hungry for real estate at a deep discount and I need your help to find them.

If I CLOSE on a deal you refer to me, you stand to make a substantial "finders fee." You can earn a finders fee even if it's a friend or family member's house you send my way. Heck, you can get a finder's fee for the vacant house down the street if you can help put me in contact with the owner.

What do you say? This is a very SIMPLE way to put some extra money in your pocket! Respond email me and I'll send you all the details so you can get started today.

I have worked with bird dogs in the past but mostly my experience has been underwhelming. Bird dogs that submit a few deals and go away are fine, even if the leads don't initially pan out. That's life. I chalk that up to someone working their natural market (friends, family, neighborhood) and seeing what they can get out of it.

But when I post a CL add for bird dogs I usually get a lot of "applications" from people who really don't follow directions and wonder why they don't get their ~$1,000 finders fee. What's the most effective way to build and train a team of bird dogs that are reasonably effective?

@Johnny Kang,

There really isn't much I'm afraid of. I'm just trying to increase my effectiveness. You're right, my inner engineer is trying to find the most efficient path to achieve results... using manuals.

BTW, I did find this handy gem: Scripts on Calling Sellers right here on BP.

Thanks @Johnny Kang,

I wholesale and bird dog on the side. I already have a successful primary career (and often put more than 40 hrs a week into that) so, don't want to give up my day job. I'm not sure that your approach is practical in my case. Do you have any other thoughts?

Oh Terrific, I fat-fingered the subject line. That's supposed to be Sales training: returning calls and cold calling.

Question for the group:

I come to wholesaling from a very technical background. Let's just say I have an "engineer's mind" with much of what that implies. I'm by no means socially inept, but I'm not optimal on the phone and I know it. In fairness, I do much better one I meet sellers in person. That's of little comfort when 99% of the time you have to earn the "in person phase" from a phone conversation.

Can any of you recommend a course on telephone sales that applies directly to wholesaling? Bonus if it addresses issues that us more technical types sometimes have with personal interaction and sales. Double bonus if it's reasonably priced.

Thanks @JD Martin . 

Now if only soccer ball proof windows were a thing I'd be set.

I'll be moving out of a 1 bedroom condo next year and will probably put tenants into it.

 I'm currently taking care of some repairs and starting to think of what needs to happen to make this place "rent ready" by next summer.

I have to remodel the bathroom and the kitchen for various reasons. I'm going to put white subway tile and dark grout in the bathroom. The bathroom plumbing will get a 1 stem system for simplicity. In the kitchen, I'm thinking about pre-fab cabinets that I stain myself. I'm not sure what to get for a countertop... I'm thinking about polished concrete counters for durability's sake. Is this overkill?

Also, I'm on the 2nd floor. My first impulse is to swap the carpet for high durability laminate. But, I'm a little worried that this will cause a noise situation on the first floor. Any thoughts?

To my eyes, the only other thing this place needs is a coat of paint. Is there anything else I should be doing that's not on this list?

This isn't a high end place but I want it to look attractive and be durable.

Wow, @Tanya H. , maybe you're being taken for a ride because you're out of state?

Bay City is also on my list of potential areas to buy as well. But, I know very little about Bay City, less than I know about Saginaw. What zip codes are good and what areas are bad?