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Updated about 7 years ago on . Most recent reply

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389
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Joshua Martin
  • Investor
  • Milwaukee, WI
193
Votes |
389
Posts

What is your probate mailing system?

Joshua Martin
  • Investor
  • Milwaukee, WI
Posted

Hey gang,

  So I've shifted my marketing materials to probate leads over the last two months, and am now coming at it from the realtor/investor angle. That is, I can either help them sell for top dollar or quickly for cash.

  I've got the copy planned out well enough to get the ball rolling and some initial pamphlet material that will hopefully look legit from the realtor angle, but for those of you who mail lots of probates, how the heck do you do it?

  More specifically, from mining this data the last several month I can expect from two counties (for now) about 75 leads per month. Sure, I can stuff envelopes for the first month or two or three, but if I'm planning on mailing them for several consecutive months (7-12? - I guess), very quickly that becomes not only a difficult system to keep track of (which mailing for which month of leads), but also remarkably tedious if I try the DIY method. Still, I plan to for the first few months as I fine tune things, but very quickly it needs to be outsourced.

  So, do you hire someone to just stuff envelopes and you take care of printing, etc. (because I've found difficulty finding someone that offers the quality of mail piece I'm looking for), and what is your database look like for keeping track of the probate leads? (Not to mention keeping track of the attys who I also plan on mailing - not planning as many touches - I was thinking one letter per probate, then call, then e-mail if it's available, then if it looks like an approachable office I'll stop by).

  Just looking for ideas an guidance on the nitty gritty.

Thanks in advance. 

Best,

  JTM

Most Popular Reply

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835
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Sharon Vornholt
  • Goshen, KY
679
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835
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Sharon Vornholt
  • Goshen, KY
Replied

With any direct mail campaign, you have to mail everyone EVERY month until you buy the house, someone else buys the house or they are removed from your list.  You're just wasting money if you don't do that.

You can use something like Podio or plain old pen and paper (and a calendar) to keep track of your mailings. I would print the white computer generated letters in house (they need to be mail merged and customized for best results). You can print them all in less than an hour with a laser printer. Then hire a mom or a student to fold, stuff and hand address the letters.  Don't give anyone stamps.  Get them back and do that yourself. 

You don't want to cold call these folks. Think about this for a minute; your mom or dad dies and some stranger calls you up about buying the house they spent their life in.  How would you feel about it?  Don't do that.  You won't have their email either. You need to mail to the executor. They have the authority to sell the house. 

There is no shortcut to probates.  You just have to follow the process. The reason this is such as good niche is most people simply won't do the work. Rick Harmon has a much different process in CA than we do where I am.  We can just put the house under contract.

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