Human Automation! suggestions?

I don't know if you've read Tim Ferriss' book: The 4-Hour Workweek. Lots of great info in there.

Most of it boils down to outsourcing.

That's about all I can offer at the moment.

I'll be interested what others have to say too.

Mark you are Genius,

I have that book got it about 2 weeks ago just haven't read it yet lol. Thanks so much Wonderful Idea. Forgot all about that book LOL

I advertise on Craigs list for RE trainees. (bird dogs). I supply the leads and train them on what to say when they make the phone calls. If they set up a meeting with a seller that we close on, I pay them 20% of the net at closing.
Same with door knocking.
As far as answering incoming phone calls, I handle that myself. I multi task, I look at properties, meet sellers, make offer, evaluate properties and carry my cell phone at all times. No one can say what needs to be said like the business owner. If I get so busy that I can not do business because the phone is ringing off the hook. I would hire an answering service.

On researching and entering buyer and seller information into your lists I know of a fellow investor that uses a virtual assistant. She overseas somewhere, but he says she is great and works three times a week for $30 a day, something like that. He provides the info, she does the rest. This guy has one of the largest wholesaling operations in Colorado however. Nets $750,000 to $1,000,000 a year. Myself, once again, if I have NO time in the day to do this and it takes away for REAL what I could be doing to make money, I will hire a virtual assistant.

Is it time management or no time left each day the reason you want to humanate? (my word) The door knocking and calling sellers would be the first thing to out source I think. That is pretty time consuming to cover the whole area you work.

Good Luck,
Michael Mangham
MD Home Acquisitions LLC

Michael thanks,

Yes I am running into that problem. Between phone calls, research, viewings, investigating and submitting offers, along with door knocking and calling ads I am just getting overwhelmed LOL. And the thing that always ends up on the bottom of the list ( which should be first ) is taking my cash solds list and finding out contact information.

Is there any way you could email me a sample ad that you use? That would be super awesome:) And I can do more door knocking LOL!

Are you finding that 80% of your cash solds have the buyers address listed as the subject property address? Meaning they are home owners that paid cash and not investors. I am amazed at how many people pay cash for their primary residence. Are you just checking county records to get the addresses and Buyer info that are different than the subject property? Then do you try and find their telephone # and call or just send out a letter? Calling is WAY better than a letter! But if you can't find their #, mail them a letter. I am sure you will track the number of letters sent and the number of responses you get. Compare that to your phone call success rate. That will be interesting and something to pass along to your fellow DGers.

Will email you a copy of my ad and some more leads!! Find that number and call, if not door knock!! Get one!!!

Michael Mangham
MD Home Acquisitions LLC

Here is what I do with that list.

I take it one listing at a time.

I look up the address on the tax assessors website. If the address is the same as the property then I move to the next one.

If it not the same then I look at the recorder of deeds site to determine if info is current and I look at the most recent things recorded for that property.

I get the mailing address along with names.
I then do 3 searches for phone and emails zabasearch, whitepages, and peoplefinders. If I can not find a phone number then we send a letter in the mail.

I prefer phone numbers. The same with the leads you send my way too But when all else fails I direct mail em:)

Another option might be to invest in an 800 number. After all, a well crafted outgoing message can serve to prescreen people according to what criteria you want these people to have. You don't want everybody to leave a message.

Case in point: I've talked to about 15-20 cash buyers so far, but my conversations have revealed that only 3 or 4 of them are legit, MOTIVATED buyers who are willing to pull the trigger if the numbers look good for them. The rest are tire kickers and looky loos or total newbies who don't really have a clue what they're looking for. I might've been able to cut down on my phone time by having them presifted with an 800 number's outgoing message. As it turns out, I, personally, don't mind talking to them because it helps refine my spiel and master the theory of wholesaling, but if you're in a time crunch, it seems like this might be a viable option.

Just a thought.

Let us know what you decide on. We could all EVENTUALLY leverage our time better and spend it where it counts -- finding and creating deals.

Hello Shine,

Actually we have an 800#. I use this for our I buy houses signs. Which seems to work great.

The massive calls I am getting is from the signs we put up for buyers. This was suggested in the edge by Greg Murphy and we did exactly what he said. Seriously no joke 26 calls the first day. And continuing!

We did 3bd/1.5 bath Owner desperate and used a local number ( google voice which happens to be tied to my cell phone). I liked the local number idea for that sign because it would seem more like a home owner than an investor and I thought well this will bring more calls. Well careful what you wish for LOL LOL!!!!

Please know I am not complaining I just want to know how to make it better and save time LOL I love that we are getting calls:)

And just so the universe knows THANK YOU FOR ALL THE CALLS:) LOL

Too answer your question its simple. I work 8 hours a day 7 days a week on a flex schedule so I have figured out how to use my time accordingly so that I can follow up with my leads.

1)have a 24 hour recorded voice mail that makes your clients leave a message. Make it sound vague. (you can use your cell phone's vm system you don't need a 1800 number.)

Ex: "Hello and thanks for calling, if your interested in selling your home or looking to buy a property at rock bottom prices you've called at the right time. Please leave your name, phone number, and the details as to why you are calling and I will follow up with you as soon as possible. Thanks and have a great day."

2) make sure to have two different follow up sheets ready or a note pad and write down as much info as you can about your lead. (make one for your seller and one for your buyer)

3) If you work too much and don't have time at all. Start networking with other local investors that are cool with helping you. Ask them if they are willing to follow up with your leads. I have a guy at my job who used to be an investor. I asked him if he wanted to help call some of my clients back, he agreed. We both agreed that if he were to follow up we would split the profit 50% if we closed on a lead he followed up with.

4)Make sure to place bandit signs and ghost ads that lead to a squeeze page . Mine for example is http://www.greencash4home.com/. It does all the screening for me so i don't have too. All I do is follow up.

5) make sure to set up an appointment at a time and day you are free so you and your lead can sign any contracts you have set for them...

6) the most important thing here is to build a team of people that are interested in the same thing. That way you wont have to take on all the work. Yes you will have to split your profits but its better then working for someone at a job.

Another thing use your breaks at work to follow up. I was using my 30 min lunch break to follow up with my leads. So if you have 15 mins of break time or an hour lunch at work, use it. Remember this is like a 2nd job for you. If your dedicated it could be the only job once you close on a few deals.