Help me automate my wholesaling processes....

[Kenneth E.]

Hey all.

I am thinking about diving back into wholesaling this year on a more aggressive scale. My intent is to send more letters/postcards as well as follow-up with all potential deals (something I was lazy about doing previously). I am reaching out to the group to get some thoughts on automating my processes. Currently, I have a customized mailing list, simple mailers (letters and post cards) inviting sellers to call me (I have full time job so all calls go to “Google Voice” number where they leave a message) or visit my website to enter their information (which I will review and will get back to them). I call them back and schedule a property visit with all potential deals (screened against the criteria of my mentor who has 20 years experience and who I partner with 50/50 on the sale). Then, I negotiate with the seller.

I am curious to know what processes you other wholesalers out there have for automating your businesses (for a relatively cheap price). I really only want to be involved in the creation of my lead lists and negotiating the price at the end. Basically, I only want to be involved in the beginning and end of the process. The main activities of my processes are broken down into the following:

Developing mailing list. I’ll do this myself since this is the heart of everything for me.

Automating the creation/sending of mailers. This is hugely time consuming for me to type or write the letters. What do you guys do? Hire interns? Pay spouses? Yellowletterscomplete.com? Any creative, cheap ideas on drip campaigns? Pros? Cons? Suggestions?

Screening callers. I have a full time job and can’t answer during the day. Do you guys use answering services? Virtual Assistants? Any suggestions on the best way to automate this? I am thinking of having my google voice message refer all callers to my site where they can enter their own information so I don’t have to spend as much time calling people back and playing phone tag. My thoughts are maybe forwarding my google voice number to an answering service and having them simply enter the persons information into my website while on the phone with them. This means all roads will lead to my website. My website automatically sends submissions via email to me and my partners for immediate review.

Scheduling appointments for property visit. Do you do this yourselves?

Lead tracking. I kept notes on leads but never really had a decent way of tracking them. Any thoughts? Suggestions? I checked MQ's free lead tracking website but I am not entirely comfortable entering my lead information into the website of another wholesaler. How do you guys track leads? Do you do it yourselves? Do you have assistants do it?

Lead follow up: How and when do you follow up with people who may be more motivated to sell in the future (ie following up with them in 3-4 months)? Any cheap ideas for tracking leads? Do you follow up with calls, emails, or letters?

Negotiating. Only me. I won’t have anyone else negotiate with sellers.

So, Im curious to see how others reduce the amount of time they spend IN their business….and make time to focus ON the business. I know all of this has been discussed in bits and pieces right here on BP, but im curious to see ‘whole systems’….if you guys are willing to share. Thanks!