Any Luck Using an Absentee Owner List?

Question

I've recently purchased an absentee owner list. I've placed some postcards in the mail today. Was wondering who has had luck with a list as such. Any good pointers? Do's and Don'ts?! Thanks in advance.

Matt Y. · Answer

Keep up the good work @Sametra Billiot

Matt Y. · Answer

@Ryan Billingsley  Excellent post...that's just the sort of info that needed posted in this thread.

Natasha M. · Answer

Royce Billiot

Hi I sent my postcards out to absentee owners 2 weeks ago... 588 leads, got 23 returned, got 24 calls and have 6 good deals that I'm working on. I was answering the phone with no idea of what to even say except when I can I see the house?  LOL No deal yet, but not too shabby for my first time.

You can do it!

Ryan Billingsley · Answer

Royce Billiot

We have yet to pull leads that are age specific.  It is just something we have noticed over the past 10 months of direct mail.

I would assume you can pull a list and choose the age groups.  We use listsource.

Ryan Billingsley · Answer

Royce Billiot

I think it is a good idea to test two different targets.  I am curious to see how the tax delinquent leads perform.  We have had good success from mailing to only absentee owners.  It seems the majority of the leads we have closed have been from people who are over 55 years old.  Age specific criteria might also be a good idea.

Royce Billiot · Answer

@Matt Y. Thanks.I've sent out a little over 200 mailings a few days ago. Not many I know, but I wanted to get my urgent ones out first. In about 2 days I will be able to mail my other 150-300 out. I am hoping the postcard idea works well, as others have had success with it. I wish I knew what the age demographics were and what they preferred. But this would take up some valuable time and research! I'm also hoping to joint venture, but it is so tough trying to find individuals that are willing to share their profits. I have a rather large investors list that I've been working on for about 6-7 months. At the time, I felt that the hardest thing would be to find investors. BOY was I wrong. The toughest part will definitely be getting a home to market to that large list. I'm ready for the challenge though!!

@Raechelle Carroll  Sorry to hear that. I will definitely keep you posted.

I understand I may not hear back for certain, and I am okay with that. I will remain positive though. My biggest struggle with real estate has always been funding and fear. In college, we were going to jump straight in to flipping, as my husband was a real estate agent at the time. We were scared to say the least, so we backed out. Just recently, we found a home to wholesale, which needed massive work done. There were cracks throughout the home along the walls and ceiling. I was so afraid to offer the owner a deal, due to my idea that it must've had major structural damage, that I simply told them I was not interested. Bummer!!!! I should have taken my contractor along with me to let me know his thoughts. Biggest regret ever! I have no clue if I made the right decision, and it haunts me today!!!!

Ryan Billingsley · Answer

@Matt Y

We hit each lead 6 times, once per month for 6 months.  I noticed that the biggest response is usually in the first mailing and towards the last 2 months.  We use letters though, not postcards so the response might be different.  By six months many of the leads will no longer be usable.  That is why it is good to pull your leads every six months to keep them fresh.

Raechelle Carroll · Answer

I purchased an absentee owner list then got really sick and couldn't do the marketing. I'd love to know how your experience turns out.

Matt Y. · Answer

I would recommend a several month marketing campaign (maybe a year or 18 months).  The key is to be consistent.  I've tried several things with just one or two mailings and I always wondered why nothing worked (in this business and others).  I finally talked to someone that told me to come up with something and stick with it.  Finally after many months of being consistent, I started to get some responses.

How many postcards did you send out?  I think you're going about it the right way but I would make sure your expectation is that you won't hear from anyone until you've marked to them several times.

Royce Billiot · Answer

Thanks @Ryan Billingsley that's actually who I purchased my absentee list from this go round. I will let you know if it gives me any luck. It's appreciated.

Any Luck Using an Absentee Owner List?

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