Sheriff Sale Question

[Steve Brown]

Hello Everyone.    I'm going to a sheriff sale next week and I need some advice.    The starting bid on the house at the auction I'm looking at is $79,000 and the surroundings homes are in the $150,000-175,000 range.     I would like to know how I should approach the owner of the house and make an offer before the auction day?     Do any BP members do this?    If so, how do you do it.  Do you send letters to them, do you knock on their door?   Obviously the owners of the home are having trouble making their payments so should I offer them the starting bid price, $79,000 plus $10,000 or $20,000 extra?   Any advice from BP members is welcome. Thanks!