Letters to homeowners facing foreclosure

[Andrew Alexander]

I'm composing my letters that I will be sending out to homeowners facing foreclosure and I am wondering whether I should put my cell phone number in the letter or if I should put my Skype number.

The problem with the cell phone number is that it has a weird area code. I live in Kalamazoo, MI and the area code is for Cleveland, OH. For whatever reason I see this as a potential deterrent. On the other hand, I have my Skype number, which is mainly what I use to screen calls. I rarely have the chance to answer a Skype call. For the most part, people get the voicemail and I'll call back. So which number do you think would be in my best interest to use.

Thanks!

[Jim Watkins]

I don't think there would be any difference between foreclosure homeowners in Kalamazoo and foreclosure homeowners in Texas.
With that said...

DO NOT allow any calls to go to your voice mail! I have a lot of experience with letters to preforeclosure owners and I have found that they will rarely leave a message. It is easier for them to hang up and go to the next number in their pile of mail.

I would do what you can to list a local number but the out of town area code would be better than letting them go to voice mail.

One other tip...
Use your name rather than a business name in your letters. I say that because to us, investors, being in this business is "cool" (bad word maybe) but to someone who is faced with losing their house... They tend to see us as "sharks" just waiting to take advantage of their situation.
So, using your name will get you further with more homeowners in the long run.

Here is the link to the article that was posted on the BiggerPockets Blog today. It is about an experience I had with a homeowner that had called off one of my letters.
http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2008/01/04/victim-of-foreclosure-who-is-to-blame/