[QUOTE=John_Corey;883853]A slight clarification if you would be so kind.
Assume that someone is starting to market. What sort of budget and time horizon should they start with? I know some folks who run an add for a short period and then conclude direct marketing is not working. Others who budget for the longer haul appear to produce better results. What has worked for you and what would you say a new investor should do?
I have no real experience with “I buy houses” advertising so nothing I can recommend on the topic.[/QUOTE]
“We Buy Houses” signs also known as bandit signs, are a cheap way to advertise that your in the business of buying houses.
Most people spend maybe 300 bucks, which will buy you about 150 signs.
Most people hang them up on telephone poles in the area they want to own property. Utility companies wont be happy about it and that is somthing to be considered.
Its an effective beginner level tactic.
Years ago, in the USA, a company called “Homevestors” and their “we buy ugly houses” slogan, took this concept farther than anyone else I am aware of, by using billboards and TV commercials. I am pretty sure Homevestors is out of business now, but they are gone for reasons unrelated to their general marketing plan.
So we are clear, my message to the original poster is to advertise he/she is in the business of buying property. How he/she gets that done kind of dosent matter as long as it happens. Newspaper adds also work but are expensive. Websites dont do much by themselves unless you do somthing to drive traffic to your site.
I will also mention this.
The single most effective advertising method i have actually done is a radio add. Unfortunatly, this will cost you thousands, so its not well suited to the folks just starting out.
