Newbie Almost got shot in the FACE!

[Brandon Huddleston]

Hello, BiggerPockets family! My name is Brandon and I've been working as a remodeler/GC for about 18 years now. I read "Rich Dad Poor Dad" a little over a month ago and it has totally changed my world. So I've decided to find a house of my own to flip (actually I would like to brrrr). I've been scouring Zillow, looking through Facebook marketplace, driving for dollars and I thought I found the perfect property. It's a run down two story with a detached garage apartment in the back covered in vines - I should post a pic. I watched some videos on how to track down landowners and found out the guy lived just down the street. And in all my newbie excitement, I go knock on his door thinking, "surely he'll be excited to have a buyer come by and offer him a cash price for his house". That was NOT the case my friends. He was mad. I mean really mad. 

He came to the door ready to fight me and quickly made it clear he had no interest in selling his house. While he's ranting about people coming by every day bothering him about his house I'm thinking "Oh crap, what am I going to say next?". I just listened to podcast 260 that morning (that's the one with Chris Voss the former FBI negotiator) so all I could think was "mirror mirror mirror". That's what I did for about 5 minutes and then the guy said, "I feel like you're just trying to pump me for information, like you're trying to work me!"  BUSTED! I made one last feeble attempt to connect by offering to partner with him in the remodel/flip of the house to which he replied, "The last guy I partnered with, I shot in the head!" 

So, I tried to end the conversation as politely as I could by thanking him for his time and apologizing for bothering him. Now, it may sound like I would be deterred from this whole situation but actually, I'm more excited than ever! I'm going to make it a point to stop by and talk to that gentleman at least once a month and see if I can build some kind of rapport with him. He seems lonely and disappointed with life. If nothing else maybe I can make a new friend or maybe this will at least leave some clues to what happened to me if I keep bothering him. 😀

What was your worst experience when trying to make an offer?

[Clint Shelley]

Invite him for coffee and talk about anything but that property. You'll stand out and may be someone positive to talk to. As a surveyor, I get blasted regularly. I most always end up leaving on good terms and often times get more work. Keys I've learned when making first contact: no sunglasses or hats, hands out in the open, stand out away from the door facing them with your head up so they can see you. Tell them your name and why you are there. Ask their name even though  you already know. In your case I would say "so and so down the street said you may know the owner of the house at blah blah blah boulevard. If he or she is available at a convenient time I would like to talk them about the property" 

if you let them know or make them feel that you believe they are experts on something or have valuable information, they'll usually talk to you. Keep at it. He'll come around. Good luck.

Clint