Tom's journey to the top!

So today I feel was productive. I finished prepping the mailing I am doing. I will be putting 200 envelopes in the mail tomorrow to all pre foreclosure homes with a personal letter pointing to my Stop Foreclosure line.

Anxious to see how that goes!

I am also prepping a post card I am sending to 200 people who have purchased a home cash in the last two years.

Seeing the feedback from those two efforts should be interesting!

Also, my LLC's website should be complete tomorrow. The design is finished. Just focusing now on the content.

Hope everyone else is staying motivated and productive!

So far so good. Still learning a lot and reading this site a lot.

A few new things... I posted on a realtor site if anyone was interested in working with an investor who puts low offers and a lot of them... First 3 hours I got 3 responses.

So I am engaging in conversations with those people.

Also, received 3 replies from ghost ads on Craigslist in hopes of finding buyers.

No REAL buyers yet, but networking is always good!

At least there is progress!

The snowball is BARELY moving... but it is moving!

Tomorrow, my mailings should be received by the recipients... so I might get a few calls to my foreclosure helpline... that would be interesting.

I was reading a lot about "subject to's". Still confusing... But I think I am getting it.

I am still waiting for the day someone adds something to this journal besides me lol

Tom

You're doing great! Would love to see your website when it's finished.

I appreciate the kind words!

Getting into REI is not an easy task, that is for sure! lol

Sounds like you are well organized and off to a good start. You are doing exactly what Dean teaches...and that's Taking Action. Learning and absorbing the real estate strategies is wonderful, but it will not put money in your pocket unless you use it. What may seem like small steps will lead to bigger steps and the bigger steps lead to great deals that will build your business. You have already acheived what 95% of real estate wannabes never will...you have started. Your future is bright.

I look forward to reading about your successful deals.

It is messages like that, which make this site something extraordinary.

I am very driven to "break" the mold of my family.

It already feels uncomfortable, which tells me I am going in the right direction!

There is a great quote I have heard through the years...

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." --Neale Donald Walsh

It is so true!

Update:
Apparently I will be on the phone with a realtor tomorrow to discuss if he is a right fit.

Oh brother.. lol

...have you had a chance to watch Deans new training video? He talks about Matt Larsens system of finding a great real estate agent, and there is a download that gives Matt's method in detail. Good stuff. Might save you some time and headaches. I'm putting it into practice tomorrow, myself. I have an agent that has been fighting me on everything I want to do...time to move on.

The video I'm talking about was delivered thru email. If you haven't seen it, I'll cut and paste the link here.

www.rockbottomblueprint.com/watch/v2.html

Actually, I did watch it this afternoon.

I made a note to myself to go back to read the bonus info about Matt and his Realtor's.

Thanks for reminding me!

Great info to read before the call tomorrow!

Good for you for starting your journal and your RE adventure!

Just a suggestion. If you fill out your bio page more fully, so we at least know where you are located, that will help us relate to you better, too. For instance, when you referred to setting up your LLC, i looked to see if you are in CA because it is such a pain here.

Yes, it is easy to become addicted to this site. But that's a good thing. You will learn so much and get so much encouragement and support. If you get active on the threads you will make some truly great friends.

Have fun and welcome!

Karen

Well... well... well...

Just got off the phone with a realtor... man talk about stepping out of your comfort zone.. who knew just a phone call would stress me so much! lol but it is done... whew!

However, the conversation created a few questions...

The chemistry was good between him and I. So I am confident we could work together which is hugely important.

However, I explained what I plan to do and he said when I get the property under contract I should also have the name of my end buyer on the contract and financials from that person.

I countered that and said that is not what I plan on doing nor does it work that way. lol...

He asked how many assignments I have done in Florida and I replied... "I have not yet, however I used to do them in a different state so I am familiar with how they work."

I did this for two reasons... I did not want him to know I was BRAND spanking new.. and also I wanted to make it seem like I knew what I was talking about a tad more.

He understood what I was saying and we had a good conversation.

I ended the conversation by explaining what I expect from a realtor... a lot of offers...a lot of work... but constant closings... he liked.

I then explained I am looking for ONE realtor and I am in conversations with several.

So I ended the call by saying if you have further questions email me and I will be speaking with him shortly.

He replied... Okay sounds good because I have some properties already... (When he said that, I knew I had him)

Then I said great, we will look at those shortly probably and we will be in touch.

That was the call! Thoughts? Critiques?

I plan to email him this evening and pitch it like he is the one I will be using so we can start looking at the properties.

Thanks everyone!

Tom

Any thoughts on my previous entry? I would love feedback!

So last night, I went on craigslist and I emailed 15 different ads.

All of the AD's were the "we buy houses" type.

It was a simple email asking if they would like to be contacted for future deals that come across my desk.

Today I wake up and I have 3 emails, all saying yes.

So that is huge!

I replied to them asking more qualifying questions. I want to know if they are the DIRECT cash buyer or do they simply wholesale and move property along to their buyers as well.

Hopefully, they are the ones with the bread!

But we shall see.

Any way, that is progress!

I have not had any voice-mails left for me on the Stop Foreclosure information line, out of 10 calls. But that is okay! We still have time!

Talk to everyone soon!

Tom

So, I seen a lot of real estate websites and I wanted to make one that was different.

I did not want mine to come across so sales..

Here is what I came up with.

http://www.bauerpowerinvestments.com/

Please take a look everyone and tell me your thoughts.

The good and bad!

Thanks!

Tom

I don't know how many people have script blockers on their browsers but I do and saw nothing of your site until I allowed scripting.
When I use my laptop I have an add-on that allows a pre-set zoom for pages on my browser. When I clicked different links on the site it reset the zoom level to the site's specification which was frustrating as I had to re-zoom in every time.
The layout itself is clean and professional. On the Services page, the line: "Please click the below button to submit your information so we can begin to work for you! A solution is at your finger tips!" needs to be broken up into two lines or so, it throws off the continuity of the page.

I didn't see any forms for the "Sellers contact us" page or the "Investors" page either. Don't know if that's intentional or not (don't have autoresponder set up yet, etc).

Another suggestion, move the links at the top of the page over to the left a little. It looks like "Investors" is crammed into the right side.

I liked the hand holding the business card on the "Investors" page.
Just thinking out loud, put it at the bottom-right of every page with a clickable email address on it.

As I run through my mind what I've seen, I realize that the site looks more like something a bank would strive for. There's not much of a "home town investor" kind of vibe to it.
I think I saw South Florida mentioned only once, is that the area you're investing in or more like a base of operations? Basically, where are you investing? Are you nationwide or local? One county or multiple?

When you click on the "About Us" link, the pictures on the page are contradicting what you are saying under "Our Mission". For example it states: "Do you know what it feels like to be railroaded by huge corporations? We do!" and yet you have a picture of a business man in front of a skyscraper.
It also states: "We understand that we are dealing with people not just property." while there's a picture of three business professionals gathered around a laptop in a conference room.
There's no "homey-ness", no little-guy feel to the site. There's no empathy or reaching-out-to-help-you feel.

I realize that you didn't say "tear up my site and rip me....", just my 2 1/2¢
Hope you're ok with that.

Good luck!

PS - You think this is bad, never ask me how somebody's cooking is...lol

is beautiful, sharp looking, but it's also a bit cold and austere. If you are using it to attract professional people as investors, I think it's perfect. If you're trying to attract working-class Joe and Jane to buy or sell their house on this website...I think you'll be disappointed. Mark is right, you need something a little 'warmer' or 'homey' for Joe and Jane. I have no idea how you could warm up this site. Maybe have 2 seperate sites? Don't stress over it too much...I know you'll figure a way to make it work for you.

I really like that Bauer Power. More Power to you. You're moving in the right direction.

I love the handshake on your first page and the quote.

I agree that on the page with the mission you need to have maybe family type pics instead of the exec shots.

I think that you have already made some of the modifications that Mark suggested because I saw forms to fill out.

I think with just a few tweaks you will have a winner!

Good job!

I agree with the criticism.

Even though I hate hearing it! haha...

The forms were always there.. Not sure if there was a tech issue that they didn't show up on Mark's system. Maybe the settings or something but they have been there.

I agree with the pics and the "warm feeling."

What I am gonna do is make a few tweaks and leave this site to be the corporate site, and create an additional one with a new domain for the sellers.

What does everyone think of that idea?

Talk to you soon!

Still think you need to make the wording and the pics coordinate on that page.

I agree!!!

I am making all of the changes that everyone suggested!

Tom, you were right, forms were always there, didn't realize you were using various modules. My script blocker is showing me that you are using scripts involved with: facebook, jotfor, jotform, wix and flashquix.

Regarding your sellers form, nobody's going to fill in all that information requested. They could put up a FSBO listing on CL with less info than that. Just do something basic like full name, email address, phone number and best time to call and maybe a choice of current situation (foreclosure, job loss, etc). When they call you just pull up a seller qualification form or something similar. It will save them time and you'll get a feel of the situation much quicker.

I don't know how 'corporate' you are planning on going but if it's involving RE professionals like agents, attorneys, lenders, brokers, etc, make the site accessible to the little guy, the professionals will understand. It's not like you're buying notes, wrapping them up and reselling them.

I like the new pictures, definitely an improvement. I think the picture in the middle could be changed up. It looks like there's a 1-2-3 progression going on. 1 - house for sale 2 - ??? 3 - Happy sellers in front of sold house. Not to mention there's a red theme too.

Another thought, maybe put a page regarding referrals in there. Let people know you'll give them $XXx if you close on a property they referred.

You may be wondering what gives me the right to mention all of this. I'm currently unemployed (by choice). It's not very hard to put myself in a seller's shoes and view your site from that viewpoint. I also have an extensive internet marketing background, but because it's not my favorite past time I don't pursue it much anymore.

Another idea is to look at the sites of successful dg.com members that have been here for a while (Matt, Rina, Carol, etc.) and see what's working for them. Grab a little here and a little there, don't re-invent the wheel.

Keep up the good work!

I have not posted in a few days.

Updates:

I am still making small tweaks on my websites. The sellers website will be done this week.

Also, I sent a letter today USPS, to 100 individuals / businesses that have purchased a house for cash this year in my area.

I am confident I will be able to add to my buyers list from that.

I also emailed we buy houses ads on craigslist. I have added 6 people to my buyers list. However those 6 people are actually wholesalers themselves. But they all say they have an active list. So we would have to partner up on deals but its still an advantage.

I also purchased the blueprint.

Not that I can afford it... but I have to try everything I can.

Oh yeah forgot to mention... I received about 25 properties from my realtor. Out of the 25, I found one with an asking price of $79,000 and a ROUGH estimate on value between 115k - 135k. My realtor will be running comps today to hone in on an actual value. But so far... doesn't sound bad!
(I don't think!!) lol

Talk to you soon

Tom

So, I am in the South Florida market. It is very popular for investors.

I have been receiving properties that are on the MLS from my realtor. However, that is where frustration sets in.

I have been trying to use Zillow to find properties that match my subject property however, there are so many houses that match the subject property that were bought VERY low. I know they are investors picking them up.

So it makes it challenging to find a true value of a property...

That is all.

Tom

I submitted 10 offers to my realtor today...

And the plot thickens!

ha ha

You'll hear good news soon! Amazing job!