How to Efficiently Evaluate Potential Real Estate Leads

How to Efficiently Evaluate Potential Real Estate Leads

Great Falls, MT · Member since 2018 · 46 posts · 27 votes

Hi BP Community-

I'm wondering if anyone has advice for how to quickly decide if a potential lead is worth conducting a full numbers analysis. Let me break this down some more. I feel like I'm getting overwhelmed with the number of potential leads that I am finding (I know this really shouldn't be a problem but a great place to be in). However, the key word here is "potential", and more specifically, ones I find where the potential seller has not contacted me, e.g. driving for dollars, MLS search, county public record search, etc. I want to be as efficient with my time as possible, but I'm having trouble coming up with some criteria for what I should further investigate and what I should completely pass on. I know this will have to do with many factors, but if someone could point me in the right direction I would be truly grateful.

I'm big into processes and workflows, so in my head I'm thinking putting these trough several stages starting with an initial broad filter. For example, looking on the MLS and searching for 3+ beds in a certain neighborhood. From there, i'm a little lost. I find myself doing an intense financial analysis on many of the properties that come up only to find out that the numbers don't make sense. I know that a lot of times the numbers won't make sense and this commitment of time is necessary, but how do I go about this more efficiently? When do you run a thorough analysis on the numbers and when do you not?

Is it as simple as only doing it when when you have a seller lead when the seller has made contact? The MLS is a little different in that we already know these people want to sell but most are expecting full retail, not selling to an investor at a discount. Is it worth running and in-depth analysis of the numbers before making an offer, or is there a quick and dirty method to get a start?

I appreciate the help and advice.

Thanks, 

Nick 

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  • Rental Property Investor · Oakland County · Member since 2018 · 151 posts · 97 votes
    7y

    I think this is a great question @Nicholas Osweiler. One thing that I can chime in on is trying to evaluate MLS leads. After enough time is spent on the MLS, or even a site like Zillow, I think that you develop an idea of the base cost of a house that you're looking for, and after enough evaluations, you'll start to notice patterns in the numbers (of the listing, not the analysis) where you could then decide to run a more in-depth analysis. I agree with you that everyone on the MLS is looking to sell retail, but that doesn't always work out for them. If a house sits on the MLS for a long time, the seller might become motivated.

    You could always do your analysis to find out what the offer price is that would make the deal work for you, and then offer that to the seller. Worst case scenario is that they'll say no. 

    If you're looking to not run analysis on all of the houses that come across your monitor, and assuming you want a rental, you could start by using the 1% rule to determine if a house's one-sheet is even worth glancing at. 

  • Great Falls, MT · Member since 2018 · 46 posts · 27 votes
    7y

    These are great ideas @Kyle Shankin, thanks for the advise. I agree that after a while you do start to notice patterns in the base price for the local market. I like your idea about starting with the 1% rule, its a simple and easy way to filter though potential leads. 

    Thanks, 

    Nick

  • Real Estate Broker · Elizabethtown, KY · Member since 2016 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    7y

    @Kyle Shankin can we talk on the phone at some point?

  • Member since 2018 · 15 posts · 7 votes
    7y

    @Nicholas Osweiler - great question because I am right where you are....number crunching. Thank you  @Kyle Shankin - very helpful response and I see you are in Michigan. I am in Freeland near Saginaw, Bay City, Midland area. 

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