All Forum Posts by: Benjamin Cowles

thanks @Sam B. but I'm asking about how you factor in rehab costs before having any pro's look at it, BEFORE you get the seller to accept, in your offer. I've been planning on researching all I can on costs for materials and labor but without experience I doubt any studying will give me the experience needed to make any confident estimates. So I'm thinking just forgoing the entire rehab portion of the valuation and giving seller the 60-70%/ARV offer, like 'hey, I can give you 65k(on your 100k home) minus repairs which within the week I'll have my contractor/inspector help me determine. How does that sound? Sign here?' hoping the seller has a close enough idea to what those costs will end up being.

As a newbie wanting to get a property under contract, how about getting a tentative offer 'minus repairs tbd(by contractor/inspector)' accepted? Have any of you lacking rehab estimation knowledge done something like this? Without experience I'm worried there would be a tendency to either underestimate repairs causing a large gap between what the seller already accepted and what realistically you could offer after having a contractor have a looksie or overestimating and losing the deal entirely. Is this something easilly accomplished with the standard contract? Is it an overall good strategy for a beginner without a more knowledgeable partner? 

And while on the subject, how do the pros do successful deals "virtually" on properties they get offers accepted before even seeing the properties?

Do they just only settle for deals done by the lowest offers possible to make room for underestimations on repairs? I'd imagine only taking deals on such low offers would limit you to so many of the available deals.

Thanks all for the valuable info

How can an investor advertise "cash" if ultimately they are getting it from another investor or partner or HML which along with traditional financing also require a qualification process? Are they really just advertising 'quicker cash'? Is that what it boils down to? I'm just concerned that if I advertised 'cash' when I plan on using a partner of HMl it would be sort of deceptive. Should I reserve 'cash' for times I plan on using all my own cash or just stick to 'quick closing' or similar? And really, arent all sales fr the seller cash unless they themselves finance the deal? Thanks!

Is there any point in "driving for dollars" if yoi will be using a list broker for absentee lists? Seems like d4d would be a huge waste of time if any leads you might find would b also be in your absentee list no? Thanks

Oops, I asked this before. Don't see a way to delete it.

But actually the question of 'will the list contain all the leads you could find in d4d' wasn't quite answered. Anyone have a definitive answer on this if there is one?  Basically is there ANY point at all d4d if you'll be using a list?

thanks @Mark Graziano. Good to know

 A bandit sign in the yard?? That's ballsie.

 Couldn't find any info on their website on pricing. How much for inquiso services? Thanks

not that I have any experience as a buyer in this situation but as a potential seller I myself would be a bit put off if after being connected with someone for ostensibly other unknown reasons in the end it came down to a solicitation then I might instinctively go towards anyone else offering services that was more up front. But that's just me and maybe this person you're "stalking" lol. But I guess it's really about the numbers and I'd go with however most people would react. Maybe an approach down the middle, or take a minimum of steps before coming out with your true business. As far as a friend connecting two people on a pretense, I wouldn't suggest it. At most I'd have my friend mention to this prospect about her friend(you) who might have a solution to her 'possible' problem. Good luck. Keep us posted!

 Hmm, how do you beat around the bush in a cold call?