All Forum Posts by: Kyle B

Chris, were there any specific places you were thinking of buying pre-NOD lists from? I've never used a pre-NOD list. I've always mailed to pre-foreclosures once they're listed with the county clerk of courts.

I've been interested in targetting probate properties for a long time and have studied up on them quite a bit. I got to tell you though, there really isn't much good detailed info about them.

I've tried mailing probates once the heirs actually take possession of the property since I can see when that happens online at my county recorders website but I haven't had any luck with that compared to the mailings I've done for other types of properties.

I'm starting to lean towards the idea of trying to get in contact with the heirs once the case is filed with the probate court. Unfortunately, since most county probate courts aren't allowed to have their records online that means physically having to go to the probate court and looking them up. Doing that everyday probably won't work but I think going there about once a week should be doable.

I would think you'd be able to get it at most office supply stores. I found some at OfficeMax.

I recently implemented this strategy using my brokerages letterhead paper instead of the yellow notebook paper. Its early, but it seems fairly effective so far.

I've used Adwords for finding business as a Realtor. Something that I noticed in my local market is when people use keywords such as "City Homes" or "City Homes For Sale" they are primarily buyers.

When people searched for keyowrds such as "City Realtors" or "City Real Estate Agents" they are primarily sellers.

I my local area I didn't find keywords containing anything such as "Sell my home in City" or "Where To Sell My City Home" or anything specific to someone wanting to sell a home.

As far as foreclosures go I pretty much only found keywords that were for buying foreclosures. Not Selling.

Every market is different. So, you will want to use the Google Keyword Tool to do some research into the specific searches people in your market use. Just because people in my local market mostly used "Homes For Sale" type keywords for buyers, "Realtor" based keywords for sellers, and mostly only looking to buy foreclosure doesn't mean that it will be the same in your area.

It would most definitely be in your best interests as a buyer to find a good buyers agent to look out for your own best interests. Perferably a newer more aggresive agent that is going to give you more personal attention.

Jonathan: I'd definitely be interested to know what your response rate is from that letter.

James: If you've been using the same mailings for years with a steady 9% response rate and it just recently dropped to 6-7% in the last few months it has to be some outside force that has changed things then.

Maybe the different market environment? Seasonality? Some lenders in your area have stopped foreclosures to catch up on their backlog of existing filings?

I guess worst case scenario would be that a competitor has somehow found a way to beat you to the deals. Might want to do some checking around on that.

Hey James. How significant of a drop in response rate have you had?

It may have less to do with your marketing strategy and more to do with the pre-foreclosure market environment right now. I think that a lot of people who are in foreclosure nowadays seem to care less about their situation.

They see the media talking about how bad the economoy is and how high foreclosure rates are across the whole country so they just don't try to get out of the situation they are in. It used to be that if you were in foreclosure you felt like you were wearing a scarlet letter. Now people in foreclosure just feel like part of the crowd.

Maybe the only way you're going to get a better response is to actually call or door knock which I know is not time efficient at all.

Hey Tracy. Thanks for the tips. I never heard about leaving the flap unsealed and just tucking it.

Why do you think that works? Is the person intrigued by it being unsealed or is it because its easier to open that way?

Many of you have probably seen a version of the "yellow letter" campaigns that are so popular with investors for getting a good response from prospects that they mail to.

If you haven't, then check out the Investor Marketing Forum here on BP or check out this image I found on Google Images:
Yellow Letter Example

Basically, the conept is for the letter to be very simple, to the point, and look very personalized to get a good response. I work primarily as a Realtor as opposed to an investor. So, I was trying to think of a way to adapt this idea to better fit the needs of a Realtor.

I thought about writing(or printing with a hand writing font) on my brokerages letterhead paper instead of notebook paper for one. Also, I thought about changing the message to something along these lines:

What do all of you think? Any suggested changes or modifications? Do you think it may be too informal for use by a Realtor or do you think that being very straight forward and personal with a hand written note would work?

Yeah you're right George. I guess I was thinking of them because I'm a Realtor as well. They would be a good source of listings.

The people on unemployment are the ones I would really like to find out about some how though.