subject: Alan Cowgills Top Advertising Methods [print this page] When it comes to finding houses to buy, advertising can certainly pave the way. But, while there are certainly a variety of advertising methods you might try, you might be confused as to which advertising methods are best. There is little doubt that some methods are, in fact, more lucrative than others.
Perhaps the best means of advertising is word-of-mouth through realtors. Realtors, after all, have the best sense of what's going on in a given market. They have contacts on the ground, people who can report who is in the market to sell. Realtors are also quite adept at sizing up potential prospects, determining which houses represent the best value.
A company that buys houses can certainly move quickly to obtain a property. Since we uses private lenders and have cash, I could get an offer accepted on a Monday and close on the house by the following Friday. Certainly, my company can beat out the competition on properties because it uses all cash and it does not have to wait on a lending institution to approve the loan.
I have found the second-best means of advertising is signs. Whether the signs are placed in the ground, on cars, or on door-knockers, they can really bring business to your door. People respond well to such signs, especially if they have a simple message like 'We buy houses' with the phone number and website address. You can also place signs strategically in the sub-division in which you're interested in purchasing homes. That way, you're targeting your marketing campaign.
My next method of advertising is ads placed in the newspaper and in the Yellow Pages. The cost of a Yellow Pages ad may seem high-about $3,000 a year-but the rewards can be plentiful. A Yellow Pages ad that is the size of a dollar bill can really attract a lot of potential customers. Despite the prominence of the Internet, people continue to read newspapers, so newspaper ads can also be quite effective. You'll find that such advertising is a wise investment over the long run.
A final effective means of advertising is mailings. These can also be done to targeted areas, especially areas in which the houses are in a specific price range. By advertising in these communities, you are likely to find the type of seller you're interested in. Pre-foreclosures are also a possibility, as far as mailings are concerned.
Ultimately, you will find that advertising pays off, enabling you to find a wide pool of potential sellers. And your business will grow tremendously as a result.
