Posted by Max (CO) on April 26, 2002 at 11:54:49:
I’ve talked to two PMs and I used a lot of what Tony (VA) has posted that I found in the archives. I also believe honesty is the best policy. I pretty much said:
My fiance and I are looking into starting a small business on the side our our teaching careers. We want to buy mobile homes for cash, keep them in the park and act as the bank for the new owners. YOU need to make it very clear that you are not renting to people. You also need to make it clear that in the note you write, the money will be due if the tenants break the park rules or get beind on lot rent. I also ask who their perfect tenants would be to see if I can try and find them to fill the house. It had worked really well for the owner/PM in one park and the other PM said she would have to talk to the owners but was not sure. She did seem mostly positive once I assured her I was not renting.
I ran an add saying I had an older mobile to sell and would finance and got 6 calls/ five the 1st day it ran. I told them I had a home under contract and would call them when the deal was complete. This gave me an immediate clientel pool to draw from including two “nice young couples”.
Anyway…Tony (VA) has the best posts I’ve seen about talking to PM’s and the donuts idea from Doc is a nice touch. Be honest and not a smarmy busness-type person. If you don’t have to lie or tell untruths, they won’t feel threatened.
-Max