I have no experience with them but it does not sound good to me. You could buy alot of courses for that amount of money and besides this site will offer you more knowledge then there "personal training" probably will. I wonder what that actually involves, a couple phone calls?
You and I agree most of the time. But this time isn’t one of them...
In my opinion if I took a newbie, educated them on how to make 50,000.00 on each transaction, including their first deal, walked them through the entire process, mentoring them to success, the 3000.00 fee would be a bargain.
I am sure you agree our education, especially if you figure in all of the "Learning Experiences" has cost much more than that.
I am now pushing 115 properties flipped this year and know I am worth 3k a deal to teach someone what I know. I bet you are too.
Oh i totaly agree that a good mentor is worth its weight in gold. Unfortunatly most of the programs out there are hardly mentoring. Which is what i was reffering to when i said "what are they going to do, call you twice and thats it" Not to mention that most of these guys out here with there seminars are not even active investors anymore. Lets face it how many of these guys who are doing the seminar circut have time to do as many deals as you. If it were someone like you who is very much active and are going to walk them through the steps (take them by the hand) then i would definetly say its worth it, and that would be a very cheap price as you stated.
Quote:
On 2005-10-05 13:23, IBuyHousesInc wrote:
Hello ZIN,
You and I agree most of the time. But this time isn’t one of them...
In my opinion if I took a newbie, educated them on how to make 50,000.00 on each transaction, including their first deal, walked them through the entire process, mentoring them to success, the 3000.00 fee would be a bargain.
I am sure you agree our education, especially if you figure in all of the "Learning Experiences" has cost much more than that.
I am now pushing 115 properties flipped this year and know I am worth 3k a deal to teach someone what I know. I bet you are too.
I think mentoring is what you make out of it. Back in 99 I took the mentor training of Carleton Sheets. I must say the quality of the training was terrible, however it did get me focused on investing and I invested in my first investment - a quadplex in Sacramento which landed a huge return 3 years later. So the 2.5K of mentoring was well worth its weight in gold.
Now back to your original question - which is the best mentoring program? I will agree with IbuyhousesInc statement - Go with whom you feel comfortable and stick to the regimen.
As to the Robert Allen mentoring program.... a Sales guy from his mentoring dept had contacted me a long time ago, but the guy sounded very sleazy + hype so I did not buy into it.
To tell you the truth i think your best bet is to go to your local REI meetings/clubs and talk to people who are active investors in your local market. Find someone who is doing lots of deals and is extremely knowledgable, see if maybe you can find a few deals for them and in return they can walk you through the steps of how those deals are going to get done. That way your learning about your local market and seeing first hand how there doing it and not from across the U.S.
Then again im sure most of the local guys dont want to train future competitors. I guess its just a matter of finding someone big enough who doesnt care about the little guys invading there turf. good luck.
The point about educating the competition is a very valid concern.
What makes it more difficult is that the majority of the trainers out there are not in the business of investing.
I would hate to be on the wrong end of advice from someone that did it years ago or maybe hasn’t done it at all.
I would say pick someone in your same state and I believe they don’t have to be in your city... A deal is a deal is a deal no matter where it is. And someone outside your area is more likely to help.
Its not like they are going to hold your hand, however they sure can give some very creative methods for solving problems.
Knowing how to solve problems is the only thing that separates a good investor from a poor investor.
The local REI group has some validity start there and ask people who they know who can help.
Clintastic,
Thank you for your fast response. Where are you getting your pre-foreclosure list & how many are on that list? How many are you mailing out to? I get a list e-mailed to me every Friday evening that I pay $45 for. It has averaged approx. 200 people on the list. It would get pretty costly to mail out to them everyday.
Also, when did you start mailing out to the pre-foreclosures? How many deals have you done doing this? Have you tried postcards? or Do you stick with letters?
Thanks for your time & info.
Swany
I went from letters to postcards and my rate dropped dramatically. But then my postcards are not very inviting. They are basically just like my letter. But on a small postcard, that letter just looks monotaneous and does not even make me want to read it. My previous letter was mail merged and very nice, but homey. People thought I was mailing it just to them. With a preprinted post card (even with a handwritten font), there is no fooling them.
Postcards will almost always get read, but there is no engagement device. You read them and toss them. If get the person to open the letter, you are way ahead of the postcard. And who would not open a letter from an individual, in a plain envelope with a stamp?
BTW - all my letters after the first are the same, but they are different than the first. I say something like "As I have a already told you in my previous letters". Something to let them know I had written them before.
Hello everyone again,
So I guess it looks like letters work better than postcards. I am currently testing them both.
Karen, Do you put your name & return address at the top? or do you put your company name? I am thinking maybe I should go with my personal name & company address to see how that works. I have been putting a printed label with my company name & address on them. I have had a decent response, but want a better response.
Swany
It sounds like you are doing a pretty good job with your mailers. Two suggestions:
1. Use a different message with each mailer. You said you were sending the same letter each time. Try hitting a different "hot button" with each letter.
2. Use both letters and postcards. Some people respond better to one over the other.
I think it is great that you are following up multiple times. So many investors give up or overlook doing this.
I disagree with Jason Van Orden. The reason you mail three letters is so that you get recognition from the home owner. If you change your format and message each time, the home owner will not realize the previous 2 letters were from you. Yes it would be nice to be all things to all people, but we are trying to build brand recognition and mixing things up every time does not accomplish that.
hey clint u said u also mail for listings, what type of sample letters do u have if you dont mind sharing. Im a RE in Cali.
e-mail is TCI name plus @hotmail.com
Mike can I use your postcard format?
I would love to have a bunch of calls from people that want to refinance their properties. anybody willing to share a postcard or letter that is bringing in calls? are you using call capture or voicemail or regular phone line?[ Edited by johnnyloans on Date 06/15/2005 ]
Check your local yellow pages and search for Direct Mailing Services or Advertiser mailings. They usually do letter folding and envelope insertion+sealing.
I found one such local fulfilment house. They charge me 1c per letter for folding and 3c per envelope for insertion/sealing.
That may work out much economical than hiring a person.
I am a firm believer in direct mailing. But the only way to determine what method is better is to look at the prospect. I have found that recent pre-forclosures whose information was gathered at the courthouse should always get a personalized hand addressed letter. I get about 3% that way compared to about 1% with postcards. Hire some high-school girl with pretty writing at $10/hr to do the addressing.
Done. Except she has a college degree and does an EXCELLENT job.
Quote:
On 2005-10-01 17:44, daburner wrote:
I am a firm believer in direct mailing. But the only way to determine what method is better is to look at the prospect. I have found that recent pre-forclosures whose information was gathered at the courthouse should always get a personalized hand addressed letter. I get about 3% that way compared to about 1% with postcards. Hire some high-school girl with pretty writing at $10/hr to do the addressing.
Energy - I spoke with a REI in Atlanta who sent a postcard type piece in a envelope a couple of months ago. It was a full color piece printed on both sides on a nice heavy stock paper. He says that it is his best promotion to date. The dummy only mailed it once though.
I have no experience with them but it does not sound good to me. You could buy alot of courses for that amount of money and besides this site will offer you more knowledge then there "personal training" probably will. I wonder what that actually involves, a couple phone calls?
Hello ZIN,
You and I agree most of the time. But this time isn’t one of them...
In my opinion if I took a newbie, educated them on how to make 50,000.00 on each transaction, including their first deal, walked them through the entire process, mentoring them to success, the 3000.00 fee would be a bargain.
I am sure you agree our education, especially if you figure in all of the "Learning Experiences" has cost much more than that.
I am now pushing 115 properties flipped this year and know I am worth 3k a deal to teach someone what I know. I bet you are too.
Find a mentor
Like one from robert allen?
whom ever you feel comfortable with
How can i find a mentor in my area?
Nice, i am a programmmer, and i do websites.
What books do you recommend?
Do you have messenger i can talk to you on? Are you investing now?
Oh i totaly agree that a good mentor is worth its weight in gold. Unfortunatly most of the programs out there are hardly mentoring. Which is what i was reffering to when i said "what are they going to do, call you twice and thats it" Not to mention that most of these guys out here with there seminars are not even active investors anymore. Lets face it how many of these guys who are doing the seminar circut have time to do as many deals as you. If it were someone like you who is very much active and are going to walk them through the steps (take them by the hand) then i would definetly say its worth it, and that would be a very cheap price as you stated.
Quote:
On 2005-10-05 13:23, IBuyHousesInc wrote:
Hello ZIN,
You and I agree most of the time. But this time isn’t one of them...
In my opinion if I took a newbie, educated them on how to make 50,000.00 on each transaction, including their first deal, walked them through the entire process, mentoring them to success, the 3000.00 fee would be a bargain.
I am sure you agree our education, especially if you figure in all of the "Learning Experiences" has cost much more than that.
I am now pushing 115 properties flipped this year and know I am worth 3k a deal to teach someone what I know. I bet you are too.
I think mentoring is what you make out of it. Back in 99 I took the mentor training of Carleton Sheets. I must say the quality of the training was terrible, however it did get me focused on investing and I invested in my first investment - a quadplex in Sacramento which landed a huge return 3 years later. So the 2.5K of mentoring was well worth its weight in gold.
Now back to your original question - which is the best mentoring program? I will agree with IbuyhousesInc statement - Go with whom you feel comfortable and stick to the regimen.
As to the Robert Allen mentoring program.... a Sales guy from his mentoring dept had contacted me a long time ago, but the guy sounded very sleazy + hype so I did not buy into it.
To tell you the truth i think your best bet is to go to your local REI meetings/clubs and talk to people who are active investors in your local market. Find someone who is doing lots of deals and is extremely knowledgable, see if maybe you can find a few deals for them and in return they can walk you through the steps of how those deals are going to get done. That way your learning about your local market and seeing first hand how there doing it and not from across the U.S.
Then again im sure most of the local guys dont want to train future competitors. I guess its just a matter of finding someone big enough who doesnt care about the little guys invading there turf. good luck.
The point about educating the competition is a very valid concern.
What makes it more difficult is that the majority of the trainers out there are not in the business of investing.
I would hate to be on the wrong end of advice from someone that did it years ago or maybe hasn’t done it at all.
I would say pick someone in your same state and I believe they don’t have to be in your city... A deal is a deal is a deal no matter where it is. And someone outside your area is more likely to help.
Its not like they are going to hold your hand, however they sure can give some very creative methods for solving problems.
Knowing how to solve problems is the only thing that separates a good investor from a poor investor.
The local REI group has some validity start there and ask people who they know who can help.
[ Edited by IBuyHousesInc on Date 10/06/2005 ]
letters are much better they should have their name handwritten on them that will get them opened.
Great Response rate! Would you please share your letter......My letters are not doing as well!
Thanks
Clintastic,
Thank you for your fast response. Where are you getting your pre-foreclosure list & how many are on that list? How many are you mailing out to? I get a list e-mailed to me every Friday evening that I pay $45 for. It has averaged approx. 200 people on the list. It would get pretty costly to mail out to them everyday.
Also, when did you start mailing out to the pre-foreclosures? How many deals have you done doing this? Have you tried postcards? or Do you stick with letters?
Thanks for your time & info.
Swany
I went from letters to postcards and my rate dropped dramatically. But then my postcards are not very inviting. They are basically just like my letter. But on a small postcard, that letter just looks monotaneous and does not even make me want to read it. My previous letter was mail merged and very nice, but homey. People thought I was mailing it just to them. With a preprinted post card (even with a handwritten font), there is no fooling them.
Postcards will almost always get read, but there is no engagement device. You read them and toss them. If get the person to open the letter, you are way ahead of the postcard. And who would not open a letter from an individual, in a plain envelope with a stamp?
BTW - all my letters after the first are the same, but they are different than the first. I say something like "As I have a already told you in my previous letters". Something to let them know I had written them before.
brenda
Brenda
I listened to a couple of well known gurus speak the other day on a conference call.
Clintastic---one of them said that his very best response was on the 4th letter!
They both stressed that addressing the envelope in hand writing in blue ink was vital.
Just passing on info.
Hello everyone again,
So I guess it looks like letters work better than postcards. I am currently testing them both.
Karen, Do you put your name & return address at the top? or do you put your company name? I am thinking maybe I should go with my personal name & company address to see how that works. I have been putting a printed label with my company name & address on them. I have had a decent response, but want a better response.
Swany
Clintastic,
It sounds like you are doing a pretty good job with your mailers. Two suggestions:
1. Use a different message with each mailer. You said you were sending the same letter each time. Try hitting a different "hot button" with each letter.
2. Use both letters and postcards. Some people respond better to one over the other.
I think it is great that you are following up multiple times. So many investors give up or overlook doing this.
To your success,
Jason Van Orden
I disagree with Jason Van Orden. The reason you mail three letters is so that you get recognition from the home owner. If you change your format and message each time, the home owner will not realize the previous 2 letters were from you. Yes it would be nice to be all things to all people, but we are trying to build brand recognition and mixing things up every time does not accomplish that.
Brenda
I do direct mail for investors. They choose letters 85% of the time. Its more personal.
hey clint u said u also mail for listings, what type of sample letters do u have if you dont mind sharing. Im a RE in Cali.
e-mail is TCI name plus @hotmail.com
Mike can I use your postcard format?
I would love to have a bunch of calls from people that want to refinance their properties. anybody willing to share a postcard or letter that is bringing in calls? are you using call capture or voicemail or regular phone line?[ Edited by johnnyloans on Date 06/15/2005 ]
Quote:
On 2005-06-18 00:48, DougON wrote:
Other details:
Font: 12pt Courier New
Paper: 65lb color cardstock
Addressed to: Home Owner
List: MLS listed homes
How do you get MLS Listed Home information?
From the MLS, where else?
You can also go to www.realtor.com its a little harder but every Realtor house is there.
You can also get all the new listings emailed to you daily by any agent.
8 point font is hardly a comfortable font size to read. I would say 12 at the smallest.
if your using postcard they need to be short and sweet, oh and really brite. my post cards are yellow with black letters and say....
WE BUY HOUSES
Any Area, Any Condition
All Ca$h, Quick Close
we are private investors not realtors
we will pay cash for you house
CALL ### ### ### NOW.
very basic and simple the main points are in very large font the "we are private....house" is all in small font.
just a sample of one of my post cards. i also have another post card strictly for pre-foreclosures as well.
Clintastic,
Check your local yellow pages and search for Direct Mailing Services or Advertiser mailings. They usually do letter folding and envelope insertion+sealing.
I found one such local fulfilment house. They charge me 1c per letter for folding and 3c per envelope for insertion/sealing.
That may work out much economical than hiring a person.
I am a firm believer in direct mailing. But the only way to determine what method is better is to look at the prospect. I have found that recent pre-forclosures whose information was gathered at the courthouse should always get a personalized hand addressed letter. I get about 3% that way compared to about 1% with postcards. Hire some high-school girl with pretty writing at $10/hr to do the addressing.
Done. Except she has a college degree and does an EXCELLENT job.
Quote:
On 2005-10-01 17:44, daburner wrote:
I am a firm believer in direct mailing. But the only way to determine what method is better is to look at the prospect. I have found that recent pre-forclosures whose information was gathered at the courthouse should always get a personalized hand addressed letter. I get about 3% that way compared to about 1% with postcards. Hire some high-school girl with pretty writing at $10/hr to do the addressing.
Has anyone tried their postcard in a letter? Maybe a short and sweet postcard with the lure of an envelop. Just curious.
Energy - I spoke with a REI in Atlanta who sent a postcard type piece in a envelope a couple of months ago. It was a full color piece printed on both sides on a nice heavy stock paper. He says that it is his best promotion to date. The dummy only mailed it once though.
You can compensate them any way you want. I think you have a great idea!