Best Time To Call Homeowners
I am assuming that the best time to call homeowners is the morning before the crowd starts to call.
Because I work nights I am home all day. I am recieving my first set of listings in the morning around 7:00am. From everyones experience, what it is the earliest I should call? What is the absolute best time to call during the day?
Thanks you. 
Go knock on the door...the best phone call you will ever make.....
Daves advice is prime.
My advice is the same, go bang on the door. But offer something.
Remember the Hoover Vacumm salesman? The first thing he did was hand you the little free brush. Then in he came, spilled a bag of dust and stuff on your rug, plugged in the machine and away he went and never shut up the whole time. You couldn't kick him out til he finished the cleanup.
I offer them the free consultation, cause they are entitled. Why? Because they are in default and that entitles them to one free consultation from the best most experienced solver of real estate and associated financial problems anywhere within a radius of two blocks from the PIQ, aka The Property In Question, I love buzz words.
I give them an appraisal, I always carry a 1003 FHA Form, an Appraisal Form and a letter from my Doctor stating that I am free from any really contageous disease.
In the course of gathering facts and measuring, I ask questions and those questions tell me what is really going on. The Husband has left. The Wife remains with two kids, no money and the really cheap second car. This leads to a refinance of the house, a sale of the house and any of a dozen other remedies.
You have to get in. I feel so funny showing up with a Vacumm Sweeper but if that is what it takes. I'll try it. So far the above seems to work. But you can vary it depending on the original responses of them wot opened the door.
Does this help? I know the telephone is a lot less challenging, but you have to do it.
Besides as time goes by you will enjoy it. You just never know who will open the door Maybe Cher!! or with my luck Rin Tin Tin.
Cheers Lucius
I would definitely do that, but I am looking to invest in Tampa Fl. and I live in NY.
Unfortunately, calling is my best and most effective option
Why do you want to invest in Tampa, Fl if you live in NY?
Often when homeowners finally decide to sell, they want to sell immediately. How are you going to close the deal if you are so far away?
Lufos,
That reminds me of a story I heard a while ago. Seems the vaccum sales guy went to a house out in the country preceded in the door with the free brush. Dumped the dirt on the floor, and stated. "Ma'am, if my vaccum can not pick up this dirt, I'll eat it myself with a spoon."
She replies, "Get to eatin' mister, I aint go no 'lectricity out here."
-Clint
The reason why I am investing in Tampa is because I have someone in the area that will be looking at the properties for me. If everything looks good we'll work with it. I am also moving to the area in a year. Why, you don't think this is possible? I happen to live on long island NY where the cheapest house you can find within an hour of me is 300,00 plus. Tampa is more my speed. I will be able to buy three houses for that amount..
Hi tjm528
I didn't now you had someone local working with you and you planned to move to Tampa.
As an added bonus you can sell your NY property and probably do well in Tampa with the proceeds.
Best of luck
7 am? if someone called me at 7 am asking me to sell my house, id take it as a telemarketer trying 2 sell me "the best bed i'll ever sleep on" good bye ::click::
Id try later in the afternoon, leave a message maybe even, but don't wake someone up. Your not the only one who works nights either. some people are just falling asleep at that time
Bird dog 1, Thank you so much for the response. You're absolutely right. I will start out calling in the afternoon.
Hey Lufos,
I am new to foreclosure and looking for my first deal. I have heard over and over again that banging on doors is better than calling. I wanted to get and idea of how you approach the homeowner from first contact. Do you start by informing them you are interested in buying their house or offer your free consultation first?? Can you give me an idea on how you approach the homeowner. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Dear Jiggsibbs et al.
What do I say when the front door opens?.
Depends, "How shall I tell thee sweet Sire for as the branches of the tree are each of different hue and leaf,"-------Willie da Shake.
Ah nuts here are some samples.
Knock Knock, Grandma answers the door. "Hi there little girl is your mother home? Would you give her my card and tell her Mr. Foster is here to help her cure the foreclosure of the house."
She giggles. "No" she says, "You got it wrong, I am the lady of the house and just what can you do for me?" "Damn," I reply, "You are, well I never would have guessed." "Anyway I see they are trying to take your house away from you and my job is to prevent that from happening. Now I been doing this for the last 250 years and I am sure we, can work something out. Is there somewhere we can sit down and solve your problem?"
You are establishing empathy, and then you are motivating them to sit down and discuss the problem.
God only knows what is the answer. She may be able to refinance or borrow on a second trust deed or equity loan and cure the foreclosure.
She may have to sell the property, grab the kids and a bunch of cash and beat a hasty retreat for her mothers home. Who knows it could be anything.
It may be that speed is necessary. As her lover is going to kill her cause she won't wear the red dress with the big feather sticking out somewhere. Whatever. It is as the wind blows dandylions, the stories are infinite and varied. I could write a book on. Knock Knock Who Opens The Door.
You start always offering to save them. That really is your job. You know the Real Estate Market, you know what can and cannot be done. In the process you will make good money on the over all knock knock. Lots of time you just help as there is no other way. But when speed is important to the survival of the owner. You perform, you throw them into a holding escrow and complete the deal as required.
Now does that make sense? I feel like a marriage counselor saying to the newly minted husband. "Now remember, always say please and smile. Don't just grab."
Sure wish I had taken that advice, my new wife belted me so hard, I had to go to the Dentist. Lets, see that was 25 years ago Oct 1. Yes, I have learned the great lesson and have the children to prove it! Say ' Please'.and even on rare occasions, 'Pretty Please'......
Lucius
Thanks Lufos,
I can see there is is no real trick other than building a trusting relationship and showing them you are there to help!!
Do you send these people letters or make any phone calls before you go knock.....or do you just show up??
I would think you would just show up. I would want to build the first impression on the meeting not on the pre-supposition given by a letter.
But only Lufos knows...
I have found -- eye to eye -- and trying to satisfy their immediate need$, usually worked better then any phone call I've ever made.
Thanks SavvyYounster,
Does anyone else out here make first contact by knocking on doors??
What kind of reactions are you getting from homeowners???/
if you have alot of leads, send them a very short letter offering help and give your mobile number. if they are in pre-forclosure they probably cannot get re-financing.
Follow up with a call a few days after the letter. works for me