Working Expired Listings

[Charlene Stovin]

Hi all, I am not sure where to post this.

I was just about to move forward to invest in my first rental property, and I was laid off from American Airlines in June.  To stay involved in RE, increase my knowledge, and maybe be able to start providing an income, I got me RE sales license in Texas.

I am genuinely appealing and respectfully asking for any help anyone may provide.  I was the single bread winner so I have a lot of pressure on myself to find income while still seeking employment.

Issue:
Everyone says to send letters and post cards.  For me, even when I am looking for a service, I tend to toss those directly in the trash, and not even look at that.  

Question 1: How do you capture attention quickly, and keep your letter or postcard out of the trash, and TRY to ensure that the reader looks at it for at least 10 seconds?

Issue: the expired listing you are looking at is vacant.  You search the county tax records and find the property owners on record, but it is obvious they are not living there (due to the house being empty)

Question 2: In attempt to be as budget minded as possible, and not assume letters/cards are getting to their intended audience, is there a better way to find out current addresses for owners?  Is it best to just send it to the property address and assume it gets to the intended audience?

Any advice, templates that have worked, etc. that anyone can give me would be appreciated X10; and if there is anything I can do in return, I would be happy to help.