Thoughts on Cold-Calling

[Account Closed]

I just wanted to know people's thoughts on cold-calling. How's it going for you guys? If you're calling up an owner, how do you start it off? 

[Allen B.]

As an owner, I'm going to take this opportunity to pass along a few thoughts.

Until recently, I owned 11 properties (ten SFR, one triplex) in Atlanta, where I used to live. For the last five years or so, I've received a steady stream of calls, texts, and even paper mail about those properties. Multiple times a day -- I'd estimate ten contacts, between the various properties and means of contact.

These people have chased my parents (who share the same last name but live in a different state) the same way, although with fewer calls per day.

In the last year or two, the volume of calls has become absolutely unreasonable. I would never do business with one of these "investors" unless they were paying cash and WAY above market.

The kicker? Every one of these properties was sold in December 2020. They've been properly reported in the relevant county databases for *many* months now. And the calls won't stop. If anything, they're getting more common.

What is WRONG with people doing this direct calling? Do they seriously think pestering someone into a rage is good business? Failing to do even the most basic of due-diligence like seeing if I even own the property they're calling about?

So to summarize, don't do it. Just don't. Sure, you may make 1000 calls and eventually find a deal, but you're leaving behind a trail of angry owners who will go out of their way to avoid you in the future.

Allen