Can I Contact An Owner
Is it acceptable to make a call to an owner of a property who's house is on the auction block. I saw this property and found that he purchased for a small amount in 1945. Now it is on the auction block to be auctioned next month for $111,000. I would like to contact him and help him out before it hits the auction, but I don't know if that is legal?
Any comments? 
If you can find him/her then you should call. Yes it is legal.
Good luck
[ Edited by RESolutions on Date 09/29/2003 ][ Edited by RESolutions on Date 09/29/2003 ]
Why is it being auctioned?
and for so much? Is it being auctioned for foreclosure or taxes?
Make sure to reseach the property history thoroughly. Tax history, records history at the court house. If you are in a non-disclosure state there are things not seen but there.
make sure to have all ducks in a row and make sure your owner tells all.
Good luck.
Yes, by all means, contact the owner, but do not be suprised if they are not receptive to you generous offer, if they are in foreclosure, chances are the creditors are hounding them also. Good luck , research the property carefully for tax liens and property tax liens, judgements, also check the title, the owner may be divorced now and she/he is still on title.
Good Luck
Don
Thanks for all the responses. I have tried to call a couple of times, but there is no answer. I am going to the court house today to research further. I will keep trying the phone in hopes that he answers.
The auction is a tax forclosure auction, so I definitly want the court research before I do anything.
Suggestion for you.
Get off your duff and go KNOCK ON THE DOOR! The last thing they are going to want is someone calling about the place.
After you knock on the door, take a step back, be unimposing, and ask if there is anything you can help them with. Be their friend and you will go much further!
My $.02
Lethe
I learned a good lesson from an old Yankee recipe for making rabbit stew. It starts, "First, catch one rabbit".
Don't waste your time doing any research until you make contact with the owner and you get some sort of agreement. Then do your due diligence.
Trying to phone him may never work and he may not even be interested in talking to you. Try banging on a door and try mailing a letter. Remember, this is a numbers game. Don't waste too much time with any one deal.
When I go to the property, I leave a letter on nice statioary, " I'm interested in buying your house" etc.,"If you have any questions, call me at..." and have engendered responces from the home owners, by phone, who would, otherwise, not answer the phone or the door.
Other investors create a little package of "let me tell you about myself" material and many others go with a FedEx box of " I'm the man for you". Do this depending on the time and expense that you're happy with, to get the desired results. ( more time and trouble will be worth it to get the good deals ).
There will be any number of other ways to try. The home owner has a problem. In whatever way they can get the message, in your area, that you're the friendly one with the guts to go after them to help them, is what will set you apart.
So, when I visit the home, I get to see the property and since I have a quick litle letter prepared, I can leave it, if they don't answer and have gotten GOOD results. [ Edited by thealmon on Date 10/03/2003 ]
Hey thanks thealmon,
I have just finished printing up a letter. I called and knoked on the door 2x and never saw or talked to anyone. I will drive by again tonight and see if anyone is around (different time than the last 2x) and if not I will leave a letter in the box.