Driving for dollars ????

[Anthony Smith]

Ok guy so I'm new to the driving for dollars, So here's the question: When you find a vacant and distressed property with city notices dating back a couple of weeks for things like grass up keep and what not. What's the next thing? Do I place my business card and a flyer in a vacant house mail box? do I try and look up the owner through public records on the MLS? If I find out who the owner is and a contact number is it legal for me to call and solicit? I need some advice I find many properties of this nature and I'm kind of stuck on what to do and if a business card and a flier is all I can do. How do you get over that nagging voice that says "You can do more"? Some background is I have access to MLS and I know how to negotiate when there is someone to answer the door. Any help would be excellent thanks.

[Brian Banks]

I love driving for dollars. It's one of my favorite and most productive avenues for finding leads. I don't typically look for vacant houses. If they are vacant then you're either going to deal with a bank or have a hard time finding the owner. I've done both and I just don't think it's worth my time. I find houses that look unkempt in otherwise nice neighborhoods and I mail out a yellow letter. It looks handwritten and just says I'm looking to buy a house in that neighborhood. I have around a 15-20% response and I almost always get a meeting from their phone call. 

When I get a meeting I come prepared. I do a little research and get an estimated ARV. I adjust the ARV once I've seen the house in person and I make my offer on the spot. I have had people tell me that they couldn't accept my offer and then call me a few weeks later and say they are ready to sell it at my price.