All Forum Posts by: Phil Reames

I would suggest a good website and then drive traffic to that website.  My website costs around $100/mth.  I'm using free Craigslist ads to drive traffic to the site and I am getting leads.  I am also using PPC (pay per click) ads and that is driving people to the website and generating leads as well.  Even with PPC my costs are way, way less than direct mail.  

I just got another lead this morning to follow up on.  Here is a snapshot of some of the info that the seller entered into the lead form.

Thanks Charles, great advice.  BTW, who is the little cutie in the picture with you?

Any contractor recommendations in the Kalamazoo area?

@Dan Green,  good question.  While the laws vary by state, here is the general answer.

Probate is the legal process of transferring title of a dead persons assets to their heirs.  Those who don't have a will are said to have died intestate.  In other words they have not provided the court with any instructions on how they want their assets distributed through a will.  Those who die with a will have provided instructions.

In either case the estate has to be probated. There are exceptions such as too small of an estate but lets keep it simple for now.  In Michigan the cost to probate an estate if the decedent has a will is about 50% less than it is for someone who dies intestate.  The reason is that the court doesn't have to work as hard  because directions were provided.  But as I said above in either case it has to be probated because that is how title is officially transferred.  This does not apply to trusts.  We'll leave that for another time.

Hope that helps.

Your just asking for trouble if you allow it. If your house is rehabbed and good to go why not just move you closing up?

That power of attorney ended the minute you aunt died. At that point the will takes over.

I was talking with two big developers in my area who have been doing this since 1983. They both said this is really reminding them of 2007. Their advice was don't take any skinny deals right now. Unless it is an exceptional deal, keep your powder dry and you'll probably see better deals down the road.

Craigs List.  Of course do your due diligence.

List it in the free section of Craigslist. "Attention scrap haulers". I did that last week for an old furnace that I needed hauled out of a basement and I got a call in 15 minutes. Guy got it out of my basement and hauled it away for free. :)

Are we talking renting for a couple months while she finds new place or are we talking renting with no intention of moving. First situation while not ideal might be acceptable for short term if that is what it takes to make deal happen. Second situation flat out sounds like a bad idea in my opinion.