More ways to make money on your marketing time and dollars

[Jeff Hodgin]

What do you do with all those leads that don't work out for you to buy.  Using other investors, contractors and even neighbors can bring in other sources of income or reduced costs from the same effort and advertising dollar.

I don't want to be an agent.  Tried it and it does not fit my skill set.  So properties that are not listed and I can't work out a selling option get referred to my agent.  In our state he is allowed to share a small referral fee to non-agents.  However I would prefer he share in my advertising or gives me a discount when using him.  By sharing in my advertising dollar I get my money up front, and I don't follow up with the client to see if he followed up with them.  

Let's say I can't work out a deal with a place that needs a new roof.  They either don't want to sell or don't want to sell at a discount, I can send that over to my roofing contractor who is more than willing to send me a finders fee.  I am adding other contractors to my "tool box".  Here's a quick list I either have or am looking for:  decking contractor, painters, mobile home movers, handymen, attorney, junk haulers, auctioneers, landscapers, window contractors.  Feel free to add more in the comments.

How to expand this list is to look for estimators or bidders from all the above companies.  I currently have a leaf guard/gutter estimator and a septic system inspector who send me leads.  I have taught them to send me addresses of distressed properties.  

As a tree service estimator I am always trying to cross market. My letters include a "P.S. are you looking to sell your property?" 

Instead of throwing away leads from jobs that don't fit you.  I don't do commercial or multifamily at this time.  Pass those on for a small "researcher" fee to others.   

A mortgage broker friend of mine sends me deals he can't put together.  Usually distressed properties that can't be funded.  

Neighbors are another source of reduced expenses for you.  I constant ask neighbors to help with tree service costs for my clients. What about asking neighbors if they want to help me in clean up costs or extermination fees if I purchase a property.  (Make sure it's under contract first.)

In a neighborhood with a homeowners association a great resource is the secretary or treasurer of the association.  Two I work with love to talk and are a great source of phone numbers for out of area owners.  They can be coaxed to give those up especially if they folks are behind on their dues.  

Your local escrow agent often has deals fall through for one reason or another.  Mine sends me nothing so I am looking for another!

I promote the tree service company at lots of home shows.  Before the show starts I circulate the other vendors and try to recruit them to send me anyone who mentions selling their property.  I have only one question to ask those who walk through and that's about their trees.  I often ask if they have a property to sell.  

Farming an area that has distressed properties is a way keep your search down to a geographic area.  I use this all the time around areas I get calls from for bidding tree work.  I pick an area surrounding the area I work in and mail or knock on the doors of those.  

I also keep a list of all those I call on and can't put together.  I call or mail them every 6 months and have put together several deals by just staying on it.  It's faster to follow up than to get new contacts.  Things change for folks.  

Your only limited by your own creativity!  Happy hunting!