All Forum Posts by: Alan Brymer

you don't have to use a realtor to buy a house if you don't want to. I would let them know what your terms are kind of properties are looking for, and if they don't agree with them or find it too difficult to do than find a new realtor.

There have been whole courses written on how to hire, train, and manage "researchers" to locate junkers, fill out an inspection form, and track down the seller. My guess is that someone would be grateful to have someone to outsource at least part of that process to.

Is it worth your time? If you're going to be doing something like that anyway, I'd start contacting the sellers myself and try to get a referral fee or wholesale it.

That's pretty much the process, only find a way to do your learning only in the car, standing in line, late at night, or at other times when you can't be making offers instead.

If you're buying to hold for the long haul, I'd rather have 2 properties free and clear in 15-30 years than one, especially if they are easier to rent in the meantime.

* Books
* Courses
* Forums like here
* Local investors or real estate professionals

People are good for getting single, immediate answers, and in my opinion, nothing beats a course at bringing it all together and organizing the process or showing what's working best.

I've gotten LLC's created with the state for about $60 or so in Utah, BUT you'll want an operating agreement to spell out all the guidelines and bylaws of who does what and how it will operate.

You may be able to find one of those on the internet. I think getting it all done, plus the chance to hammer that attorney with a long list of pre-written questions for $350 sounds like a pretty good deal.

I've never focused on FSBOs only because so few of them are motivated. But if I were going to set out to do it, I would do this (or have an assistant do this):

* Scan Craigslist Leads
* Scan leads from other local newspaper
* Scan leads from FSBO magazines at the grocery store, etc
* Put them all in a spreadsheet or Highrise
* Search all their numbers on whitepages.com
* Search them all on the do not call list--cross off those who are, because it's still soliciting even if you're not selling something
* Call them all 3 times until you get a live person on the phone
* Pre-screen live answers and work the deal

I would probably call 200-300 numbers as a decent test and then compare:

* The time it took
* Any costs involved
* what % of sellers were motivated
* Ask if it's worth it and proceed if it is

No, No, No, No, No!

If you're good at finding leads, just get a $10/hr assistant to do it. Paying a % is a waste of money.

Plenty of really sharp, organized people will do a great job for an hourly rate--just look at title company assistants!

Just because you and I operate from a go-getter, profit or commission-based mindset doesn't mean that is what motivates other people. Some folks just want to excel at a job, so give them what they want.

here's an article on the topic: "Why you DON'T get what you pay for" http://www.alanbrymer.com/blog/?p=126

I remember knocking on doors. I would get to about 10 doors in 2 hours of driving around, and only get 2 live people to answer the doors. I was about to quit until I knocked on my 50th door and it resulted in a deal.

What time of day/night are you going to the houses?

Do you plan on buying it at the auction, or from the homeowner before the auction?

I wouldn't bother at the auction. To reach the homeowner, try sending them a letter, using whitepages.com to get their phone number and call them, or pay them a visit and knock on their door.