Posted by Bryan-SactoCA on October 28, 2002 at 16:26:21:
I’ve been using a modified version of the letter that you have in your lease options course, Joe, and including a lease options FAQ in the letter. By the way, Joe, do you still send letters to landlords you find in eviction filings?
Letter to FSBO to do Lease Option. - Posted by Scott B
Posted by Scott B on October 28, 2002 at 06:15:39:
Anyone reading this try mailing letters to homeowners that have had their house on the market for awhile as well as expired mls listings and evictions to get motivated people calling about doing a lease option. If so does anyone have such a letter I can use and modify or know of a course I can buy that uses them as part of there marketing. Alot of houses here have been on the market for over 6 mo and If I was them and had to move and someone sent me some kind of letter explaining the benifits of a lease option I think I would call to see if they might be able to help.
Thanks to all,
Scott B
Re: Letter to FSBO to do Lease Option. - Posted by JoeKaiser
Posted by JoeKaiser on October 28, 2002 at 06:55:16:
You’d think such a letter would be a good idea . . . like one of those “reports” that explain all the benefits of doing that sort of deal. But you’d be wrong.
Oh sure, I’m certain it works every now and then, but it works at a rate that pales in comparison to the result you could have obtained by talking to them in person.
You know how when you look for someone on a search engine and you put in “Smith, John W. Jr.” and you get maybe just him? Had you entered “Smith, John” you would have found dozens more, and had you entered just “Smith” you’d have found HUNDREDS more. Same kind of thing happens with that letter of yours.
By talking about lease options in your letter (or on the phone), you immediately limit the response to only those who have some clue about how it works. In the process, you eliminate just about everyone else.
A far better letter would be something that says “give me a call when you’re ready to sell . . . I’ve got just the solution that will work for your situation.” And when they call, you go talk to them. You sit down with them, determine their needs, and make suggestions that fit their needs, solve their problems, and get them squared away. You can’t do that with a "9 page report (which, by the way, is precisely 8 pages too many).
YOU become the letter. YOU explain the benefits of whatever it is you’re offereing.
Letters can’t respond to pointed, “make or break” questions that can and do come up virtually every time. That’s your job.
Forget the magic letter. Frankly, letters just get in the way.
Joe