These are basic questions - you may have more of your own to ask your agent.
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Sunday, February 17, 2019
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Locating Off-Market Properties
By Nick Disney (guest poster)
One of the best ways to decide what off-market lead generation strategy will be best for you is to look at what strategy you can implement and maintain for at least 6 months.
I get this question a lot: “Where do I even start looking for off-market properties?”
To be honest, there is not one specific magical answer of how to find off-market properties. And please keep in mind that the majority of properties will and should be listed with a licensed real estate professional in the area. However, there are some circumstances when the best fit for the homeowner may not be to list with an agent. This is often when the home needs extensive repair, needs to be sold on an incredibly short time frame, or has some unfriendly tenants in the home who will not allow it to be opened for showings. For those times, there are ways to let people know that you are available to make them a cash offer for their property in its current condition. We will cover what I think are the best ways to start finding off-market deals and, by the end of this blog, you will be able to choose what strategy will work best for you.
So, what are our options?
Your Professional Network
One of the most effective ways to get off-market property leads is to talk to the real estate professionals who “have their ear to the ground.” Realtors can be one of the most valuable assets to your investing business because they are the first ones to know about the majority of properties that are coming up for sale! Most of these properties will be listed on the local MLS. However, if the realtor feels like it might be a good idea for the homeowner to contact investors due to their circumstances, then you become a valuable resource to that agent.
Go to free local networking events or get involved in online networking websites such as BiggerPockets; invite some realtors that are in your city to lunch and form relationships with them. Let them know what your investing criteria is see if you are a good fit to work together.
Lead Generation Website
Another option is to get a website to inform people of the service you offer. If you know how to, you can build your own website, or you can hire someone to build you a website; there are a few platforms that are pre-built with lead forms and SEO optimization. You want to create your website so that it is SEO optimized for the keywords that your qualified leads are searching in Google such as “need to sell my house as is.” When Joe Smith searches “need to sell my house as is for cash” in Google and your website comes up, he will be able to contact you and then you can see if you can help him with his property. We often get people that contact us from our website who would be better served by contacting a real estate agent. Since these properties don’t fit into our niche, we are happy to refer them over to some of the great agents that we have worked with in the past. Our site is www.sellmysanantoniohouse.com.
Direct Mail
You can find different lists of folks that you’re going to send postcards or letters to. We use lists such as absentee owners, tax delinquent properties, probate properties, and pre-foreclosure properties. You can easily google “direct mail for real estate investors” and find an abundance of information there! You have the option to create the postcards or letters yourself or hire a direct mail company. If you hire a direct mail company, all you have to do is choose from one of their pre-made templates, send them your mailing list, and they will create and send the mail for you. The key here is consistency and patience. Again, some of the people who will contact you are better suited to work with a local realtor and you should refer them in that direction. It’s the right thing to do for the homeowner and that realtor will be happy to call you when they come across a property that needs your help.
Your Personal Network
Everybody that you know should know that you buy houses; they should know that you help people sell a house that they’re afraid they won’t be able to sell because it needs a ton of repairs or that you help people sell their house fast and for all cash. If you don’t know a lot of people, it’s okay. There are a lot of free networking events that are hosted by real estate groups. Check Facebook real estate groups for upcoming networking events in your area and get out there. This is a free form of marketing! As many people as you can reach should know what you do!
How are you going to decide what strategy will work best for you?
One of the best ways to decide what off-market lead generation strategy will be best for you is to look at what strategy you can implement and maintain for at least 6 months.
If you’re starting out in a competitive market and you can’t spend thousands of dollars a month on SEO and direct mail, and maintain that for six months, it’s probably not a good idea to run down that path.
If you have money to invest into marketing but you don’t have any extra time in your day, you may not be able to maintain going to weekly networking events for 6 months. In this case, put your money to work to generate leads by utilizing direct mail, SEO, or Facebook ads.
The key is this: once you decide what your budget is for that six-month period, commit to those one or two lead generating strategies that you chose and then focus on being really great them.
A lot of the time people decide, “I’m going to do a little bit of everything,” and what ends up happening is that you do a lot of things, but you don’t do any of those things really well. You will have a higher chance of generating more leads by executing one or two marketing strategies very effectively rather than doing a lot of marketing very poorly.
Get focused. Make a six-month plan and then master one or two lead generating strategies.
I hope this helps,
Nick Disney, Owner of Sell My San Antonio House
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Happy Valentine's Day
We are posting this a day early to let you all know there is a great guest article going to be posted tomorrow. So if you are not on one of our automated systems, you'll want to check back tomorrow and have a look. That is all I am going to say about it for now.
Want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow!
Want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow!
Friday, February 8, 2019
And, the Groundhog Said What?
Are you ready to list your home and move on? This short video shows some things to consider....
Monday, February 4, 2019
Our Signs Had A Makeover
Check out our new signs at the HEB on Wilderness Oak and the one on 281 and Evans. You will find it on the real estate magazine rack. We hope you are a regular follower on this blog - if not, there are sign up options on the right.
If we can help you sell or buy a home, please call. And, visit our website: www.SanAntonio.Homes
If we can help you sell or buy a home, please call. And, visit our website: www.SanAntonio.Homes
Saturday, February 2, 2019
How To Hire the Right Contractor for Your Next Renovation
By Jeremiah Rizzo (Guest Poster)
Maybe you’re a homeowner gearing up for a home renovation (finally getting that kitchen remodel or addition!) to add more value to your home before you list it on the market. Or you’re a real estate investor or “house flipper” looking to gut and rehab your first flip.
It should be exciting, and it is, but you’re dreading the process of finding the right general contractor to partner with. Sure, there’s the new Facebook recommendations feature, or Google Business listings of contractors near you (along with their ratings), but this is your home!
What if they’re overpriced? What if they do a bad job? What if it takes way longer than you’re quoted?
Well, you’re not alone in feeling that way. Finding the right contractor to work with can be intimidating, or difficult, especially if you don’t know the industry.
So to help you out, here are 5 things to look for in a good and reputable contractor, and 6 things to help you identify an unprofessional one.
In the interview process, if you see or ask for these 5 things, and the company has or offers them, that’s a great sign.
This should go without saying, but it may not be obvious that not everyone who’s going to come knocking on your door will have insurance, or be fully licensed. Make sure that you get verification of both of these things before moving on.
Ask the company for testimonials from past customers, or pictures from recent projects. Take a look at a large scope of projects they’ve done. Look at the details - the cuts, the edges, the corners, does it look professional? Additionally, you can check Google Business to see what past clients think. If they have no reviews (or very few), ask them why, and see if they can produce some for you.
Ask how long they’ve been in business, how many projects they’ve completed, and if they’ve ever worked on a project like yours before. If this is their first go at something like this, then you might want to look for someone more experienced. Now, this doesn’t mean that years in business = quality, but you should look for some signs that they’ve successfully completed a number of projects like yours. Where do you find this info? Start with the contractor’s website. For example, this page from Bodden CGI details how many years they’ve been in business and the number of projects they’ve completed.
A great company will have customer-friendly policies in place like: no smoking on the jobsite; no cursing; showing up on-time; etc. They should be super customer-service focused.
Ask about what the project site will be like while they’re working on it. See if it’s their practice to clean up tools and straighten things up at the end of each day, or just leave things out. Yes, cleaning up at the end of each day is more labor intensive, but this is your home we’re talking about - and the contractor performing the work should be respectful of it.
They don’t have much of a portfolio, or many projects they can point to. Inexperience can result in slower progress; costly mistakes; and extra financial costs for you in the long run if the work needs to be re-done. It’s worth paying for someone that’s experienced, and knows what they’re doing.
If they’re quoting you something much cheaper than other contractors, there is probably a reason for that.
Does the owner/team look professional? Do they maintain clean appearances, or do they look unkempt? If the team is unkempt or unprofessional in appearance, it may reflect on their work quality and how clean they’ll keep the jobsite.
Contractors are on their phones all day. They’re really busy, and often behind in getting customers estimates. But that doesn’t mean they can’t communicate with you to let you know what’s going on. If you reach out to request an estimate, and you don’t hear back for weeks on end, that’s a bad sign. If they can’t communicate with you up-front in a consistent way, don’t expect a ton of prompt communication once they start working for you.
If a contractor or his crew are consistently late, that’s a bad sign. Many reputable companies require their teams to be at the work site (your house) at a consistent starting time every day. If the company you’re vetting shows trends of being late, be wary.
And finally, steer clear of any company who is not a licensed general contractor.
Hopefully these tips will help you interview, vet, and hire your next contractor. Asking for recommendations from friends goes a long way in this process, and looking for these factors will help you avoid an unprofessional company. And if you need help selling a distressed property, we’re a cash buyer and liquidator of homes and distressed properties. Visit us at Everett Real Estate Investments to learn more.
Author: Jeremiah Rizzo - Digital Marketing Expert at AdWords Nerds
5 qualities to look for, and 6 to beware of.
Maybe you’re a homeowner gearing up for a home renovation (finally getting that kitchen remodel or addition!) to add more value to your home before you list it on the market. Or you’re a real estate investor or “house flipper” looking to gut and rehab your first flip.
It should be exciting, and it is, but you’re dreading the process of finding the right general contractor to partner with. Sure, there’s the new Facebook recommendations feature, or Google Business listings of contractors near you (along with their ratings), but this is your home!
What if they’re overpriced? What if they do a bad job? What if it takes way longer than you’re quoted?
Well, you’re not alone in feeling that way. Finding the right contractor to work with can be intimidating, or difficult, especially if you don’t know the industry.
So to help you out, here are 5 things to look for in a good and reputable contractor, and 6 things to help you identify an unprofessional one.
5 traits of a good contractor.
In the interview process, if you see or ask for these 5 things, and the company has or offers them, that’s a great sign.
The contractor is licensed and insured.
This should go without saying, but it may not be obvious that not everyone who’s going to come knocking on your door will have insurance, or be fully licensed. Make sure that you get verification of both of these things before moving on.
They have a good reputation of producing high quality work.
Ask the company for testimonials from past customers, or pictures from recent projects. Take a look at a large scope of projects they’ve done. Look at the details - the cuts, the edges, the corners, does it look professional? Additionally, you can check Google Business to see what past clients think. If they have no reviews (or very few), ask them why, and see if they can produce some for you.
They have experience and knowledge.
Ask how long they’ve been in business, how many projects they’ve completed, and if they’ve ever worked on a project like yours before. If this is their first go at something like this, then you might want to look for someone more experienced. Now, this doesn’t mean that years in business = quality, but you should look for some signs that they’ve successfully completed a number of projects like yours. Where do you find this info? Start with the contractor’s website. For example, this page from Bodden CGI details how many years they’ve been in business and the number of projects they’ve completed.
They have proper etiquette.
A great company will have customer-friendly policies in place like: no smoking on the jobsite; no cursing; showing up on-time; etc. They should be super customer-service focused.
They keep a clean job site.
Ask about what the project site will be like while they’re working on it. See if it’s their practice to clean up tools and straighten things up at the end of each day, or just leave things out. Yes, cleaning up at the end of each day is more labor intensive, but this is your home we’re talking about - and the contractor performing the work should be respectful of it.
6 warning signs of a bad contractor.
Inexperience.
They don’t have much of a portfolio, or many projects they can point to. Inexperience can result in slower progress; costly mistakes; and extra financial costs for you in the long run if the work needs to be re-done. It’s worth paying for someone that’s experienced, and knows what they’re doing.
Unrealistic prices to get quality work done.
If they’re quoting you something much cheaper than other contractors, there is probably a reason for that.
Unkempt appearances.
Does the owner/team look professional? Do they maintain clean appearances, or do they look unkempt? If the team is unkempt or unprofessional in appearance, it may reflect on their work quality and how clean they’ll keep the jobsite.
Not returning phone calls in a timely manner.
Contractors are on their phones all day. They’re really busy, and often behind in getting customers estimates. But that doesn’t mean they can’t communicate with you to let you know what’s going on. If you reach out to request an estimate, and you don’t hear back for weeks on end, that’s a bad sign. If they can’t communicate with you up-front in a consistent way, don’t expect a ton of prompt communication once they start working for you.
They’re not punctual.
If a contractor or his crew are consistently late, that’s a bad sign. Many reputable companies require their teams to be at the work site (your house) at a consistent starting time every day. If the company you’re vetting shows trends of being late, be wary.
Not licensed.
And finally, steer clear of any company who is not a licensed general contractor.
Good luck on your next renovation!
Hopefully these tips will help you interview, vet, and hire your next contractor. Asking for recommendations from friends goes a long way in this process, and looking for these factors will help you avoid an unprofessional company. And if you need help selling a distressed property, we’re a cash buyer and liquidator of homes and distressed properties. Visit us at Everett Real Estate Investments to learn more.
Author: Jeremiah Rizzo - Digital Marketing Expert at AdWords Nerds
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Where Are Home Prices Going in 2019
Take a quick look at this video to find out where the experts believe home prices are headed.
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
FREE Credit Reports
We have created a new page on this blog to make FREE credit report information easily available.
Check it out: Mortgages and Credit
Check it out: Mortgages and Credit
Sunday, January 27, 2019
Buying or Selling San Antonio Homes
Introducing Real Estate with Al Cannistra - our new market information sites in English
and
Presentamos Real Estate con Al Cannistra: nuestros nuevos sitios de información de mercado en Spanish
SanAntonioHomes.Uno
ES.SanAntonioHomes.Uno
and
Presentamos Real Estate con Al Cannistra: nuestros nuevos sitios de información de mercado en Spanish
SanAntonioHomes.Uno
ES.SanAntonioHomes.Uno
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Friday, January 25, 2019
Where No Man Has Gone
Nah - that is not true. Folks are using this app but I am told, we are the first in San Antonio!
So, are you ready for the journey? It can be challenging - fun - and the developer is working on it to make it better all the time. No spam from me - just an easy way to connect and find your next home!
So, are you ready for the journey? It can be challenging - fun - and the developer is working on it to make it better all the time. No spam from me - just an easy way to connect and find your next home!
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