How often do you go see the house?

[Antonio Bodley]

Is it best to see the house first before sending out a bunch of direct mailers? I ask because I have been in situations where I wish I saw the houses first before sending out direct mailers. One time I had a house in my direct mail list that was completely burned down once I saw it in person. Then just yesterday I went to go look at a tax deed property I was interested in buying only to find the house is completely gone. What about when motivated sellers respond to your postcard then ask this question? Have you seen the house? All you did was just send the mailers without even seeing the place.

[Larry Turowski]

You are wasting far more time and gas than you are saving by removing a few addresses.  Also, if you can drive your list at all it is too small.

When someone responds to a mailing I first ask qualifying questions during a conversation with them to make sure they are motivated, namely, what they would like to get for the house.  Most sellers are going to want full market value.  And many even want a premium.  Fair enough.  But I don't want to go look at those houses I'm not going to buy.  I want to go to houses where the seller is motivated.  I explain to sellers that I send out a lot of mail.  I did not know they were interested in selling so I haven't done my research on the house.  I only do that once I know someone wants to sell and has an idea of what they want to get.