All Forum Posts by: Bob C.

Its to everyone/both. I'm thinking "ya never know when someone needs to sell". Just got to be in front of them when they decide its time.

Distress lists are VERY small around here. Maybe 10% of that list. I figure they are included and the rest - you never know. They've been there a while, it may be time to move.

@Aaron. Copy writing (and testing/measuring) is one of my top strengths. (I used to do email marketing and website conversion optimization) Negotiation is a pretty good one of mine too.

Ok... some terminology clarification on my part. Maybe I don't mean motivated sellers this is who I'm thinking of mailing to:

A single zip code (on of the larger towns near me)

3-4br SFR

10yr+ ownership

45% equity

=1100

(I'm in a rural area)

Aaron: I like your mindset - it has to be money that I'm comfortable flushing down the toilet. A deal or two from that list would be very satisfying. 1/mo to often? That's good news. Quarterly helps stretch the budget.

"Finally, the main reason we are doing this is our thought process was that Listsource is available to any Tom, Dick or Harry out there whereas our list would be complied ourselves and target obviously distressed properties."

True- and the houses you are mailing to are on that list... that Tom, Dick and Harry are using.

This is true. Don't want to be too big, nor too small. Do you think 1100 fits in that criteria?

For the last year I've been beating my head against a wall trying to work short sales via MLS. I've decided finally go the motivated sellers route. I'm fortunate to have capital to be able to jump right into direct marketing and am ready to buy my first list.

I've seen here and understand not to start with "too big" of a list. And also that I need a list big enough to move the needle. So, not too big or not too small - I need something juuuust right. ;-)

How many should I start with to get my feet wet, to refine my message, to get my phone conversation down?

I've gone to listsource and filtered one of my favorite areas to about 1100 names. Do you think that is that big enough to get 1-3 houses from a year (mailing to monthly)?

I plan on adding more towns (potentially 5,000 names) as I refine my message, etc. to get up to my 6 houses per year goal.