First let me say that even though I limit the size and year in my ad, I still get calls about others outside of my limits. If during the discussion I feel it’s worth a look, I’ll take the time. (Hence the double-wide)
In 1984 MH’s began being built to HUD standards. For the most part these homes are more desirable to buyers in my area. Also many parks are weeding out the “older” homes requiring them to be moved when sold. The 14 and 16 wides are also more desireable to the majority of buyers in my area. If the home is newer than '92, chances are they owe too much on it for my “buy price” range. These parameters allow me to focus on the homes that are in my price range and will sell the quickest with the least amount of hassle from the PM’s. I also own a park and if I buy one to move into my park, I want it to be “modern” looking and worth the added expense of the move.
Joe C.
“I will pay cash for your MH” adds - Posted by Brian (CA)
Posted by Brian (CA) on July 24, 2001 at 16:15:50:
I have been doing Lonnie deals for the past year and a half in California and am a frequent viewer of this site. I haven’t posted in a while but I wanted to see what some of you think about placing adds in the paper.
Most deals I find are either from PM’s or adds in the Sunday paper. Last Sunday I was looking through the real estate section and noticed about 10 different “I will pay cash for your house” type of adds. I haven’t seen any of these types of adds for mobile homes and was wondering if anybody out there has tried this? What type of response did you receive? Would you recommend this type of advertising?
Thanks for any and all thoughts.
(Always looking for motivated sellers)
Brian,
If you want to prospect for sellers, my personal opinion is that its cheaper and more effective to either hire someone to go into the parks and leave fliers or door hangers or even do it yourself (good way to scope out the park and get to know the people). You might even want to hand out pens, matchbooks, business card refrigerator magnets (one of my favorites), “finder fee coupons” etc.
Maybe you could team up with a mobile home repair service. They pay for the promotional materials, you pass them out.
Just ideas.
Lyal
I have done this once with some success.
My add read:
Wanted 14 or 16 wide mobile home, 1984-1992. Phone #.
I ran it for a month (April-May)in the “manufactured housing for sale” section. I got 35-40 calls. I ended up buying 3 single wides and a double wide at great prices from motivated sellers. I plan to run it again in August.
I put an ad in the county “free” paper…I buy Mobiles…thats it. I have gotten every kind of call imaginable. Funny thing I have not bought any mobiles from this add…but I did buy 8 acres of land DIRT CHEAP and made a killing.
I used the same ad a few years ago & the phone rang off the hook. It was after I read Carleton’s chapter on Mobile Homes. Everyone wanted to sell, but no one was buying.