Generating leads without lists or mail?

[Matt Geerts]

Here in Ontario, Canada, there are privacy laws that make it impossible to find any of the lists that all of the American wholesalers on the BP podcasts talk about. There is no pre-foreclosure list, no probate list, no divorce list, no expired listings list, nothing of the sort.

Also, a postcard costs 34 cents to mail in the US? It costs 85 cents here, more than double the cost.

So, two questions to you successful lead generators:

1. What would be your top-performing lead source if you did not have lists?

2. Would you still mail post-cards from driving for dollars or other address sources if you had to pay 2.5x as much for them?

I am thinking that mail is not going to be my avenue of top ROI, so where should I be focusing? Please speak from experience!

[Jeff G.]

@Matt Geerts, frankly I'd do two things:

1. I'd cold call Cragislist for everything that looks like a FSBO or otherwise seems like an "odd duck" that a real estate agent would have a hard time selling.

2. Every For Rent sign is basically a big sign that says "non-performing asset." So, I'd contact landlords for every listing (again, probably on CL) and ask if they want to sell.

3. I'd get to know every divorce attorney in your target area. Figure out a way to make it worth the attorney's time to refer divorcing couples to you. The upside is you sell quickly for the couple.

4. Every estate sale is a house that's waiting to be sold. Same deal: get to know the estate sale people in your target area and get their referrals. Also, watch CL for estate sales.

You'll definitely have to work harder initially. Once you get your network built, it might actually get easy because you won't have to do marketing... your network will send you leads.

Is that helpful?