OfflineA potential buyer left me a voice mail in response to my CL ad. My CL ad says: "Wholesale Properties -- 60-70% & below FMV -- won't last long! Call Now! and then my ph. number." He wanted to know the cash prices and addresses that I have available? I don't have any properties yet, so how do I respond? Just take down his info.?
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Teresa
College Station, TX
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"Declare that you will prosper despite every difficulty that may come your way. Don't just survive; thrive!"
-Joel Osteen
You will find that these ads are not new to investors who stalk CL
What you are doing is running ghost ads..... Typically you will market one house at a time and when they call you can tell them that it just sold.... They dont last long.... if I find another great deal would you be interested? When he says yes.... Grab his info and your on your way to building your buyers list. Dont let me discourage you.... but they all have egos and they all will tell you they have cash and they are investors..... I find that about one in 50 actually are.... Just keep pecking at it.... you will build a good list in time.....
I read the forum thread below, you might also find additional insights there as well.
"Craigslist Ghost Ads" by John (SouthsideJohnny)
http://www.deangraziosi.com/real-estate-forums/marketing-buyers-and-sell...
Happy Investing!
Cris
You posted this yesterday and you're telling me that all have sold???
All have traded contract and the deposit was posted on all???
Once you fess up, I will let you know that its not nice to waste other peoples time.
Don't post ads saying you have properties, but post saying you can find them for others.
Don't lie; you'll suffer in the end when you're found out.
Hope this helps.
It's going to be difficult for me to say that it has just sold when I've put in my ad that I have multiple properties. I'm thinking of changing my ad to state something more truthful like Elix suggests in her post. Thanks for your input though!
I'll just have to use a different phone number.
Teresa
College Station, TX
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"Declare that you will prosper despite every difficulty that may come your way. Don't just survive; thrive!"
-Joel Osteen
Thanks for referring me to that thread. It's given me better ideas about what to do & say. Thanks!
Teresa
College Station, TX
**********************************************************************************
"Declare that you will prosper despite every difficulty that may come your way. Don't just survive; thrive!"
-Joel Osteen
Elix,
Thanks for your comments. I read what you said on the thread a while back and I think I will use what you said.
Have a good weekend!
Teresa
College Station, TX
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"Declare that you will prosper despite every difficulty that may come your way. Don't just survive; thrive!"
-Joel Osteen
Yep, I think you kind of made an oops. It's pretty tough to say you sold them all!
I think this is what Elix said, but since we hate to lose a prospective buyer, try this truthful tack--
"Call the respondent back and "fess up", say you ran the wrong by mistake and apologize, but ask if they tell you about what they are looking for ... turn the conversation to focus on them. If they are a actually a cash buyer, in my experience they will forgive the oversight easily-- afterall, they want more deals, they have cash they need to spend and that is their focus. The genuine cash buyers have more money than product.
Yessiree, I would try to save the call-- it could be a hot one. You'll know if they are the real deal-- true cash buyers are eager to share what they want and how quickly they can close.
Delete your ad and change to a new one--
Lots of help here-- you'll do fine. Congratulations fro taking Action TeresaJo!
Never, Never, Never Quit, N3Q
"Nothing happens until you place an offer."
"Skip Deal #1, go straight to Deal #2; it's so much easier."
"There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all." — Peter F. Drucker... so, "Don't sweat the small stuff." -R.Carlson. "The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one."~E.Hubbard, The Note Book, 1927...so, Do it for the right reason and "Do it with a headache!" - Dean Graziosi, Weekly Wisdom #176
Great advice Tina! Thanks, I'll do what you said.
I love how people on DG.com help each other out! Take care.
-Teresa
I think this is what Elix said, but since we hate to lose a prospective buyer, try this truthful tack--
"Call the respondent back and "fess up", say you ran the wrong by mistake and apologize, but ask if they tell you about what they are looking for ... turn the conversation to focus on them. If they are a actually a cash buyer, in my experience they will forgive the oversight easily-- afterall, they want more deals, they have cash they need to spend and that is their focus. The genuine cash buyers have more money than product.
Yessiree, I would try to save the call-- it could be a hot one. You'll know if they are the real deal-- true cash buyers are eager to share what they want and how quickly they can close.
Delete your ad and change to a new one--
Lots of help here-- you'll do fine. Congratulations fro taking Action TeresaJo!
Teresa
College Station, TX
**********************************************************************************
"Declare that you will prosper despite every difficulty that may come your way. Don't just survive; thrive!"
-Joel Osteen
Go get 'em and bookmark this thread so can come back to it and update us!
Milk the calls and network ops for all they're worth, be quietly upfront and listen; they'll be on you like bears on honey!
OK, it's very late and that was real silly, Oh, well you get the idea.
Never, Never, Never Quit, N3Q
"Nothing happens until you place an offer."
"Skip Deal #1, go straight to Deal #2; it's so much easier."
"There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all." — Peter F. Drucker... so, "Don't sweat the small stuff." -R.Carlson. "The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one."~E.Hubbard, The Note Book, 1927...so, Do it for the right reason and "Do it with a headache!" - Dean Graziosi, Weekly Wisdom #176
Ghost ads...some people swear by them, some people swear against them. Your ad would have been OK if you left out the "Won't last long". Then the ad becomes a gray area where they could think you have property available, but you never advertised a specific property that you have to back pedal on. You could have said that you were looking for cash buyers interested in those types of properties that you have leads on, but haven't locked up yet. If you advertised a ghost house, what would you do if the buyer said "Oh, gee! I'm sorry I missed it. What's the address? Can I give you a back up offer?...Oh. it's a solid deal that's going to close? Well, could you give me the address so I can gauge what kind of deals you can get, and follow the property so I can learn more about the market and what other buyers are doing?" Best you be up front. That way you don't have to remember what you said or keep telling lies to cover up other lies. I've got enough trouble remembering where I put the car keys let alone remembering some BS yarn I'm trying to spin. But then again, to each his own. Whatever works for you.
Will do!
Milk the calls and network ops for all they're worth, be quietly upfront and listen; they'll be on you like bears on honey!
OK, it's very late and that was real silly, Oh, well you get the idea.
Teresa
College Station, TX
**********************************************************************************
"Declare that you will prosper despite every difficulty that may come your way. Don't just survive; thrive!"
-Joel Osteen
Appreciate your comments...so true. I've already deleted my CL ad and will create a new one today with a new ph. #. It will say:
I FIND HOMES
NEGOTIATED FEE
INVESTORS AND BROKERS WELCOME
PH.___________
This is what Elix recommended. Should I add anything else? I want to get it right this time! I got 2 calls yesterday when I posted my first ad so I know they work...just need to get it worded correctly. Thanks all!
Teresa
College Station, TX
**********************************************************************************
"Declare that you will prosper despite every difficulty that may come your way. Don't just survive; thrive!"
-Joel Osteen
As a newbie here, this is great information. Thanks to all of you!
This is my incentive for potential buyers and sellers!
http://www.hopedrugcard.com
40% Below FMV (headline)
Just passed off a deal 40% below FMV, I have others in the works, that will also need to be passed on
Please contact me so you too can get notified of other deals. Put me to work for you and we both end up happy!
I Get responses all the time, usually email, then i respond back with what criteria, area, price range etc. I add them to the list.
Good Luck!
Kristen
You are welcome Teresa.
Personally, I believe in "Truth in advertising." The forum thread link that was started 2 years ago (?) by John raised the very same issues that we all still face today.
I am building my buyers list through personal networking (REI Clubs, and telling everyone I know I am doing REI as well!). I read somewhere in this website that it is actually best to have between 5-10 SOLID buyers in your list (that you have "qualified" as real buyers). I had deals fall out recently because buyers backed out after I had deals (2) in contract, so that's NOT a good thing... I think that my "fault" there was I didn't foresee that they could be "ghost buyers" (LOL!). As a "workaround", after I find potential buyers, I have them fill out a questionnaire (same questions we ask on the phone, only I put it in the "body" of the email), so at least they would have the opportunity to remember what they told me they wanted for a property. (Also a good way to weed out the real ones from the "unreal") I think Mike (reinvestor42) posted a thread on "buyers" and, that was helpful as well. ( when I find it, I'll post it here).
Good luck and Happy Investing!
Cris
Cris, once again your archives are amazing.
Thanks for keeping up and trying to keep us all organized!
_tina
Never, Never, Never Quit, N3Q
"Nothing happens until you place an offer."
"Skip Deal #1, go straight to Deal #2; it's so much easier."
"There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all." — Peter F. Drucker... so, "Don't sweat the small stuff." -R.Carlson. "The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one."~E.Hubbard, The Note Book, 1927...so, Do it for the right reason and "Do it with a headache!" - Dean Graziosi, Weekly Wisdom #176
Tina, what does your CL ad say? Also, should I put ads on CL in other cities, like Dallas, Houston, San Antonio saying that I wholesale in Bryan/College Station?
-Teresa
Teresa
College Station, TX
**********************************************************************************
"Declare that you will prosper despite every difficulty that may come your way. Don't just survive; thrive!"
-Joel Osteen