Also, I'm a big fan of copy/paste, so have your generic email with all the information (price/qualification/showing date) and copy/paste to everyone you get, it's quick/easy and efficient!   

They are definitely not a waste of time IMO.Having said that, I have found Realtor.com to be the most useful with zillow being supplemental and I rarely look at Trulia.

Certainly a good personal connection attempt that may get through the clutter of other more generic mailings they are also likely getting for a long vacant property.

I want to develop a consistent RE wholesaling business to supplement my retirement.

This question is for those of you that do this as a living, and as a supplemental income.

That will allow you to quickly mark the houses and review them later to identify the streets they are located on.The articles I listed above will tell you what to do to find the Tax owner's name and mailing address.I would then go by a store and pick up some college ruled paper (white/yellow), pre-cut tape, #10 envelopes, and stamps.Take a clean white piece of paper and lay it over the lined paper so you can see the lines through it.Write a generic letter saying you want to buy the person's house, you pay cash, and to give you a call today because you need to buy a house within the month.

Steve's Wholesaling for Quick Cash 2.0 was a really good course and the audio CD's and DVD were a great supplement.

Get some generic cards to pass out.Even more importantly for a wholesaler is to make sure you get THEIR card.

This type of sale allows them to get a lumpsum - perhaps to do all the trips on their bucket list - and then supplement their pensions which they may have started to receive 20 years or more ago and are no longer adequate for today's costs.Basically the purchase consists of two parts: a "bouquet" or an upfront lumpsum that may be anywhere from 15% to maybe 50% of the property value and a monthly or annual payment (called a rent) that continues until the owner dies.

@Isaiah Suber -- Im not a pro either I have only done one wholesale, however my advice is to switch your marketing.yellowletterscomplete.com absentee owners in your target county, zip, whatever, using invitation style envelopes.I did the generic 'I would like to buy your house at xx maple street, give me a call'Your phone will start ringing.