All Forum Posts by: Loretta A. Steele

If anyone needs some help with creating the eye catching craigslist ad title symbols, I have just posted a short how-to on my new BP blog: "REI Computer Related ShortCuts".

Here's a sample of a craigslist posting title with the eye catching symbols:

►► ⌂ ◄◄ We Buy Houses►► ⌂ ◄◄

I plan to add new computer shortcuts that I use in my investing business as often as I can. Hope this helps.

The BP family has really helped me and I just want to give back a little.

Welcome Charlie,

Thanks for the offer to share and this is a great place for learning as well.

Hi Jim,

Welcome to BP and thanks for offering your knowledge on marketing.

Hello Marcus,

Welcome to BiggerPockets. I'm located in Riverside county.

There's a wealth of knowlege here. Take some time reading through some of the posts, blogs, and groups that are available.

Loretta

Tiara,

Welcome to the world of wholesaling. Is it an easy process? No! You get what you put into it. If you are willing to work at wholesaling and be highly motivated, you'll make it.

Having a "quality" buyer's list is the beginning. By quality, I mean that you know what your buyers are looking for. The more information your buyer gives you about their purchasing requirements, the better. The buyer requirements will help you focus upon the best deals.

Loretta

Mike,

You mentioned that 2 other entities have the same company name. Will you have a website that will use the company name as the domain name? Have you checked the other 2 companies and their respective websites? Will there be a conflict? Your company name will be your identity, do you want to share it with other companies?

On the state of California website, there is a link to search on company names whether a corporation, LLC and/or LLP? Check with your state for a business name search.

Take your time. You might come up with an even better company name.

Loretta

Welcome Adam,

I'm in the Inland Empire, not to far from you. I also have a computer background, mostly in software support and teaching.

I started my real estate investing as a birddog for a local Realtor. It was a good introduction into investing. Finding motivated sellers will be the basis of your business. If you become successful as a birddog, those skills will serve you will in your future real estate investing strategies.

There are a number of ways to find motivated sellers besides the MLS. Some methods will be better in some areas over others. What determines a good method is your maket area or "farm". Get to know as much as you can about your farm before you start marketing in that farm.

In the begining the best method of finding motivated sellers will involve testing. It could be signs, postcards, letters, flyers, door hangers, online advertising, etc. Determine which one(s) will work in your specific farm. Then you must be consistent with your advertising to see results.

Search through BiggerPockets, you will find a wealth of information on birddogging and advertising. And here's to your success in investing.

Loretta

As a normally shy person, talking on the phone was frightening. Before I started my real estate business, I had a job that required me to be on the phone all day.

I worked for a large software company, in the technical support department. My first day the phones, I talked myself into skipping work. But I forced myself to go the next day.

Talking on the phone is just like learning to ride a bike. You have to practice, practice, practice. Evidentually, I became very comfortable on the phones. And I became one of the top 10 support technicians in my department.

When I first started to talk to sellers on the phone, the old nervousness came back. But I could draw upon my technical support experiences and I just got over my fear.

Get on that phone and start talking to all the "For Sale" sign homeowners in your area. Just ask them about their house. Do this every weekend, evidentually you will become comfortable as well.

The community college classes seem for your people who are studying become a licensed real estate salesperson or agent, NOT for real estate investing.

If you want to learn investing, then locate a local Real Estate Investing Club, and start attending their meetings. There you may find an experienced investor to work with.

Real estate investing is about action and networking.

My decision was easy, I chose my family names. Because;
1. both names are strong and recognizable

2. want to follow the pattern of "name-name", because I use to work for a company called Ashton-Tate