- 1. Name Your Business-
Choose a name for your business and a Vanity Name & Number would be most profitable as you begin to brand your company’s services. A vanity number would seamlessly integrate all of your marketing tools such as the website, toll free numbers, your signs, ads and business cards. Once you’ve chosen a name, the next step is to go and grab that domain name and look for a dependable yet affordable web host.You can use whomever you like but this is who I depend on time and time again for my many sites because they’ve got Web Hosting – $6.95/mo! and I like them.
2. Launch your Website –
After strategically choosing the name of your business (remember you are branding) you will order your domain name and design your website. The first site that my previous partner and I did was on a site called ebiz at the time which was fine except for the fact that I had to learn so much about web layout, uploading and that sort of thing- which took time away from our real estate business. If I had it to do over again (and I certainly do it now) I would outsource this task to someone more skilled at this chore and it’s not very expensive either. If you want to explore a little more about having someone implement this for you in the next couple of days, Odesk is a pretty good source and you can even Find Virtual Assistants on oDesk . I’ve been using them for a little more than a year and I’m very satisfied with the many affordable providers on the site.
3. Marketing-
Using Signs, Postcards, websites, classifieds and everything else that you can think of. I’ve heard some great feedback from investors that have been very impressed with the Real Investor Software System because it automatically schedules, manages and merges direct mail marketing, efax and email campaigns as well as letters and postcards to increase follow up and keep things on track. RealProspect is allowing people to try it out for a full 30 days for only $1- so there’s no reason not to at least check it out.
4. Order your business cards -
I like Vistaprint’s Business Cards because are so affordable, good quality and they have an excellent turn-around time. This means that you can take control of your business card and get better results. With Vistaprints pre-designed templates, you can create a professional, attractive business card online in seconds. No more haggling with a designer. Right now get 250 full-color business cards FREE with this special offer. Click here.
5. Explore and Subscribe to Get Leads -
Such as WeBuyHouses.com, iBuyHouses.com, leasepurchaseleads.com, fasthomeoffer.com, uslandco.com or even search some of the many Foreclosure Deals that are out there using a 7 Day Free Trial. The motivated seller leads from We buy houses will be routed to the nearest location of the lead and it’s known nationally. Most of these sites send you a fairly detailed property description, contact info ,loan data and you can even get an idea about the ARV from some of these providers. Just shop around until you see exactly what you’re looking for.
6. Constantly add Sellers & Buyers to Your Database -
Offer them a free or report in exchange for subscribing to your site.A report similar to ‘the 23 Most Costly Mistakes That Investors Make” If you don’t have one- go grab one at my website for free of course and have your assistant upload it to your site to help educate buyers/sellers that visit your domain. Once you’ve established an initial relationship with them, you can follow up with an email autoresponder series using a service like aWeber to maintain that contact. This way, whenever the seller decides to get rid of the property, they will immediately think of you.
7. “At the Ready” Agreements -
If you need real estate forms- you can grab 23 of mine right here FREE of course >>>click here and I would highly suggest that you take some time to layout a complete filing system so that you can be prepared when the deal comes. I also keep an accordion file in my car with every form that I might need to put a house under contract at the drop of a hat.
8. Beef up your Buyers List -
You can advertise regularly on places like Craigslist, Kijiji, Backpage and other free classified sectors online. The other thing that I would highly suggest is that you become a regular fixture at your local real estate investors club. You can network to your hearts delight and immediately learn the criteria that your buyers are looking for. Again, this can be assigned to a virtual assistant as well so that there is a consistent building of this essential database.
9. Email Property Lists to Buyers Investors -
Some of the sites out there will have a built-in email system as part of their service. Most of them will not. I like to use Aweber to send out my property lists because it’s cheap, accurate and I can include links to several sites in the email, not just the one where my property is located. Sending Investors a link to the property will drive business to your website but most folks are busy. I like to have pictures, comps and a story right there in the email for them to look at. For the people that never click through because they are still getting ready to invest, establishing yourself in their minds as the person with lots of pictures will bring them back to you when they are ready.
10. Build your Power Team -
You cannot do everything yourself and some things you lack the expertise to do and other things you lack the time for. A powerful support team will help you to leverage yourself as you start doing deals because you will be able to delegate things that other people can and want to do and free up your time for running your own business. It’s a individual business decision as to what real estate industry professionals will play a role on your team and there are so many to choose from. Perhaps you’ll need a RE agent, or a Hard Money Lender, a Contractor and Appraiser may be on your team along with a Title agent. I even have a Pest Inspector on my team but it took a while to know exactly who was needed after some experience out there.
Remember, the best use of your time is spent Finding Deals so the best thing to do within the next 72 hours is to get on the phone to interview these folks and get moving as team players.
Don’t over-think it…get on the phone, meet some folks, have some laughs and see how you can perhaps help someone else’s business.
