All Forum Posts by: Mat Lewczenko

This agent is doing what all agent training is telling her to do - Call FSBO's and Expired listings "They are the low hangning fruit" that you have already "raised your hand" saying you want to sell. Tehre is a six year study out there by the NAR showing that something to the effect of 94% of FSBO's eventually end up lisitng with an agent, and listing with an agent can NET you about 11% more than selling FSBO. (I can't find the exact study right now but it is out there, and the numbes should be close, i'm going off the top of my head.) So now this agent is following up with you, hoping you get frustrated with no showing, unqualified tire kickers, etc. and end up listing with them, like the other 94% out there will.

Agents want listings period, they are leverage, you don't have to sit in a listing for it to sell, and yes people call off the sign and if they don't have an agent then bam, you(agent) have a new buyer. The thing sellers don't know, or realize is that Open Houses are not for the seller, they are for the agent. Agents do them to get unrepresented buyers walking though them, so if they9the buyer off the street) doesn't like this current house, they are more than willing to show them other houses in the area just like yours. Do open houses sell houses? sure I'm sure they do, sometimes, but they are a "dog and pony" show for sellers - it's another lead generation activity for the agent hosting.

Flat fee MLS. Are there agents who avoid them? Yes, for all the other reasons stated above, and also because you have "shunned" listing with an agent. Now will anyone come out and say that? No, do they do it? well... one would never be able to prove it. It's just easier to work with another agent, and with the ammount of inventory available, why would anyone want to work and harder than they needed to if they were truly still working in their client's best interest. I know that you have the paperwork and have done this before, and I hesitate to say this, but 80% or more of the agents out there only do about 2 transactions a year, and may not know how to handle you.

As far as craigs list goes, I'm not sure there is anything you can write in your ad to stop the realtor calls, just part of being a FSBO. All you can do is just be the best priced home that is also in the best condition and eventually it will sell. It's a price war and a beauty competition out there - you have to be the cheapest date to the prom. Period.

Just thank the realtors for calling and tell them that they can have your business with an approved offer.

Again, all the best!

It's hard to add to what everyone else has said. My nugget for you is to find something daily, that is an action toward your goal (like calling FSBO's, putting out bandit signs, actually going up to strangers and telling them that you are an investor and are looking for deals) really put yourself out there, daily and things will start happening.

Have you found a buyers list yet? Have you shadowed other investors in your area yet? Ask someone who is rehabbing if you could just tag along and watch their day. Do you know what makes a deal in your area? What spreads buyers in your area are looking for? Can you pretty accurately estimate rehab costs?

This list may seem overwhelming, and I know you are looking for encouragement, but I guess the encouragement I have to offer is that you may be too hard on yourself. Looking for a result in such a short period of time may not be realistic.

Keep Plugging away. Keep working. Keep looking for deals. Keep Networking. Keep asking questions. Don't stop.

The Walls are not there to keep you out, they are put up to see how bad you want it - and keep the other people out.

I live and work in Kansas, been here about 7 years now (never seen a tornado) but I just recently noticed a phenomenon. The company I work for at the moment is right between a Motel 6 and a Days Inn (not an advertisement) and as of last week, the parking lots are OVERFLOWING with crew cab pickups with 5th wheel trailers for roofing. Easily 50-60 trucks with trailers in all lots.

Now we have had some storms in the area, actually a couple hail storms and there have been some roof claims but I never noticed this before.

Is this common? I guess If I were a roofer I would go to where the storms are. Then the next step would be how do I get to the next area before the storms do so I am first.

I wonder if roofers watch that storm chaser reality tv show to get some tips. Also, I wonder if when they hear thunder in the sky do they also hear "cha-ching"?

Anyway, thougth I wuold share. Never noticed this before.

Good Luck! or NEXT!

One of the other challenges that this particular client may have is if they have any liquid assets. She will have to produce current financials to the bank in your packet in order for them to even entertain taking the loss. So, not only does she have to be behind, if there are assets, then that poses another roadblock to overcome.

Can you give us a brief description of the smell prior to cleanup? I caught myself grimmacing at the pictures without even smelling them.

Really nice job! Not sure I know many people that would tackle this one as their first. Kudos!

I'm pretty sure Chuck Norris just decided it was time, concentrated on the task for about a nano second, and with only his decisive intellect, the compound blew up. The cover up was typed by the Dos Equis guy, made to look authentic, since he himself is actually the referred to 'Seal Team 6', his awesomeness is sixfold.

Ralph Machio declined comment from the set of Dancing With the Stars, he is still figuring a way to incorporate the Crane Kick into the Samba for next week. Good Luck Ralph.

In all seriousness, today is a good day.
AMERICA, F*$% YEAH!

This has been a great blog, it's different in the way you go over all leads. Really well done. Enjoying it immensely.

Loved it! Boy there have been some really funny posts today. Love the humor infusion on BP lately.The spring season and some sales really helps lighten the mood around here :)

Oops, I crapped my pants!

Thanks for that James, that was awesome.