Direct Mail in Philadelphia - Saturated?

[Jibu V.]

From almost every recommendation I've seen, it sounds like direct mail is the best way to generate leads for rehabbing and wholesaling.  My concern is this:

Philadelphia (in and around) is flooded with bandit signs.  I am presuming that it is also flooded with direct mail.  What kind of success are people currently having with direct mail in Philly?  

I hope to start off with 1000 mail pieces per month.  The main thing holding me back right now is a belief that the Philly market may be saturated with these mailings (sounds like everyone is buying a listsource list and marketing to vacant owners "with equity") and sellers are using it to their advantage to have investors bid against each other and make deals less appealing.  Am I thinking about this the wrong way?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[David Bokman]

The reality is if you don't market you will NOT get any leads. Marketing regardless of who you are mailing too is a long term commitment. You have to market for at least 6+ months to see any results.  Hitting the same people over and over....Philly is very large so you may want to market in area's that aren't so "hot" or maybe instead of marketing to absentee owners you market to other's such back taxes, probate, etc etc.....