Arrest warrant may have created motivated seller

[Simone Johnson]

Greetings all,

I have finally worked up the guts to make my first cold call. The home is in Atlanta, GA and is a 3/2.5 home sitting on 2.16 acres on a quiet street and built in 1995. The home has been boarded up for about 8 months, empty for about a year or so. There were squatters in the downstairs and have messed up the basement apartment. I haven't been in the property yet, but Code Enforcement gave me a decent visual of how the property looked and told me the violations were more cosmetic than anything.

The owner, who I think bought it from a wholesaler, has just been absentee and now the home is facing abatement and a warrant has been issued for his arrest because he missed one or two court dates. I finally called, but he didn't answer so I sent a text with my name informing him that I live on the same street and was calling about the property.

When he didn't reply, I asked him if he knew that a warrant may (it was) have been issued for him due to missing court dates and that I would like to help. He replied immediately, and said he wasn't aware. I told him to check and that the home is facing abatement. I am sure he knows it is because Code Enforcement said he has been notified and they have been trying to get him to manage the property properly. I was able to get his correct cell number from them.

I asked if he had a few moments to talk because I wanted to see if I could help him and he said later today. I asked him for a specific time so I can make sure that I wasn't in another appointment and he said that we could talk today at 5pm.

Any advice on what questions to ask when I get him on the phone? Any creative strategies to get him to sell this home to me. I would like to live in this home and hack it. It needs some work such as a new porch in the back, and I know there are some holes in the walls downstairs but not sure to what extent.

In 1995 it was 80K.

It sold for 105K on 2/7 and then sold for 118K on the next day.

I know he hasn't done anything to this home. It will need work. I just don't know what to aim for because I don't know what really needs to be done.

Any advice?