It’s critical to the success of your real estate business that you learn to ask the right questions when someone calls. Getting the right information will help you to quickly determine whether or not you are dealing with a motivated seller. If this person is not a motivated seller today, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they won’t be motivated in the future. Time and circumstances change all things.
Regardless of which category they fall in to, I have a rule of thumb that I follow. As long as the house is one that I would be interested in purchasing, I keep them on the mailing list until one of these things happens:
I buy the house.
Someone else buys the house.
They ask to be removed from my mailing list.
That’s it. Don’t disqualify someone because they aren’t a motivated seller today. Keep on marketing to these folks.
What questions should I ask?
To be sure that you don’t forget anything, you should always use a property information sheet. Keep a stack of them nearby when you are talking to sellers. If you do that, you will always get the information that you need. Some of the things I have on my property information sheet are listed below.
First I get all of the contact information
Their name and the property address.
The name of the person that actually owns the house. The person calling may not be the decision maker.
Phone numbers. Try to get all of their phone numbers.
Their email address.
Whether the property is vacant or occupied. If it’s occupied, who lives there? Is it a tenant, a relative etc? This will have an effect on how you can access the property.
In the far right corner of the property information sheet I list the referral source and the type of referral.
*DM –Direct mail campaign
*PR – Probate
*OT – Out of town owner/absentee owner
The state is for absentee owners. I want to know which state they are calling from so that I know the time difference. I don’t want to call them too early or too late. If the referral is from some other type of marketing I will just note this on the sheet.
Next I get all of the property information
The number of bedrooms and baths.
Whether it’s built on a basement, slab or crawl.
The style and type of construction such as “brick ranch”.
The ages of all the major systems such as the roof, HVAC, etc.
The type of fuel used for the heating system.
When the kitchen and bath(s) were last updated.
Types of flooring: carpet, hardwood or other type.
Be sure to find out if all the utilities are on in the house.
Ask them what repairs and updates they would do if they were to live in the house. You will be amazed at the information you will get just by asking this one question.
The next questions that I ask tell me about their motivation
How long have they owned the house?
Why are they selling? (What’s their motivation)?
What is their asking price? You want to find out what their expectations are.
What the house is assessed for. Most of the time they have no idea.
If the house is listed. If so, who has it listed?
Do they have other properties to sell? Never forget to ask this question.
The forth section is existing mortgage information.
Get specific information on what is owed on the house. You may find out very quickly that you can’t help this seller no matter how motivated he is if there is no possibility of a short sale.
The last section is where I come up with the MAO.
In this section of the form, I list the ARV and the dollar amount of the repairs needed. Since I am a wholesaler, I also have a place to list the wholesale fee I want. These figures will tell me my MAO or my “maximum allowable offer”.
I have set the form up so that I can put two sets of figures in this area. I usually figure the MAO for a complete rehab, and a “to rent” MAO. For instance, landlords won’t necessarily do the same level of work that a rehabber would do for a retail sale. Many landlords would be OK with a bathroom that had pink tile if it was in perfect condition. After all, they won’t be living there. Doing this second MAO gives me another way to “create a deal” if I can’t get the seller quite as low as I need for a rehabber to buy this house.
Other tips
When dealing with a motivated seller, ask them what it would take for them to “unload” the property; to be rid of this headache. What problem do they need to solve? Remember, it’s not always just about the money. When they have given you a number, wait a little bit before responding. Then ask them, “is this is the best you can do”? Once again, just wait. Wait for them to speak first.
You will be amazed at the number of people that will immediately drop their asking price significantly. Finally, ask them what they will do if they don’t sell the property; if they get stuck with this unwanted house.
If you use the same form each time you speak with a seller, you won't forget to ask important questions. It will also help you make a good solid offer on the property.
Get a copy of my property information sheet plus several other free forms here.
Hi Sharon,
I am new to investing, I haven’t even sent out my first letter yet.
I want to know how you know what to offer when talking to a seller?
How will I know what the ARV is, without seeing the property?
Am I going specifically by the information I get from the seller?
Dolita – You need to do a whole lot more studying before you send any letters or talk to sellers. This is not something that can be answered in an email. Just keep reading the blog and you will get there.
HI Sharon,
Thanks for the advice, but I’m a little confused. I thought you guys said in the podcast you did with Mike Simmons, that it is important to study, & I have been doing that, but you don’t have to know everything to get started; you don’t even have to come close & it’s also important to take action and do that first deal, & your best education will come from doing that first deal.
So, I’m not sure how much more studying I should do before I start sending out letters. I have been studying and as I don’t come close to knowing everything I think I need to know before I get started, I am learning a lot.
I am one of those people that will read blog after blog & listen to endless podcasts and never do anything because I think I still don’t know everything.
So, I’m trying to get out of that habit and just ask questions about the things I’m not sure of & take action.
Is there nothing you can tell me about how to find the ARV on a property for someone just starting out? I know everyone had to figure out that first ARV before they had enough deals under their belt to just know from experience.
Is there a specific blog I can read or podcast you can recommend I listen to?
I am a new investor and with all the information I am sorting through and trying to learn and impliment it would be great to have a copy of the property information sheet to use as a jumping off point when I am talking with the very few leads that I do have coming in to make sure that I am maximizing my conversions into possible deal the best that I can.
Could you be so kind as to forward me a copy of the sheet that you are using please?
Also, if you have a script or scripts that you use or know of a link where I could access a sample script, that would be awesome also. I am looking just to get more comfortable and confident when talking with possible wholesale deals.
Thank you soooo much in advance, I really appreciate you taking the time to send that out to me. Your doing an awesome service for dedicated “newbies” like myself.
I just discovered you last night while surfing the DIVA MONEY site. Since then I’ve spent about 10 hours so far reading your articles, blogs, etc. What a goldmine of really good relevant information!
I recently retired and have decided to invest in realestate. Would you be so kind and send me a copy of the “property information sheet” that you use? I would be most grateful.
I am a new investor, just getting started currently working on my first real deal. I live and work in Oklahoma and I hope to learn as I go. I discovered your website from biggerpockets and you have a very good rei blog.
I too would like a copy of your property information sheet and any other rei worksheets that you may offer to a new investor.
Hi Sharon,
I am new to investing, I haven’t even sent out my first letter yet.
I want to know how you know what to offer when talking to a seller?
How will I know what the ARV is, without seeing the property?
Am I going specifically by the information I get from the seller?
Thanks,
Dolita
Dolita – You need to do a whole lot more studying before you send any letters or talk to sellers. This is not something that can be answered in an email. Just keep reading the blog and you will get there.
HI Sharon,
Thanks for the advice, but I’m a little confused. I thought you guys said in the podcast you did with Mike Simmons, that it is important to study, & I have been doing that, but you don’t have to know everything to get started; you don’t even have to come close & it’s also important to take action and do that first deal, & your best education will come from doing that first deal.
So, I’m not sure how much more studying I should do before I start sending out letters. I have been studying and as I don’t come close to knowing everything I think I need to know before I get started, I am learning a lot.
I am one of those people that will read blog after blog & listen to endless podcasts and never do anything because I think I still don’t know everything.
So, I’m trying to get out of that habit and just ask questions about the things I’m not sure of & take action.
Is there nothing you can tell me about how to find the ARV on a property for someone just starting out? I know everyone had to figure out that first ARV before they had enough deals under their belt to just know from experience.
Is there a specific blog I can read or podcast you can recommend I listen to?
Dolita – There is a search box here on the blog. Just put in the topic you are looking for like “ARV”. Here is part 3 of making offers. The links to the other parts are in this article. https://louisvillegalsrealestateblog.com/making-offers-in-your-real-estate-business-part-3
I am a new investor and with all the information I am sorting through and trying to learn and impliment it would be great to have a copy of the property information sheet to use as a jumping off point when I am talking with the very few leads that I do have coming in to make sure that I am maximizing my conversions into possible deal the best that I can.
Could you be so kind as to forward me a copy of the sheet that you are using please?
Also, if you have a script or scripts that you use or know of a link where I could access a sample script, that would be awesome also. I am looking just to get more comfortable and confident when talking with possible wholesale deals.
Thank you soooo much in advance, I really appreciate you taking the time to send that out to me. Your doing an awesome service for dedicated “newbies” like myself.
Thanks again and God Bless!
Joe.
SC
Joe – You can get it here. http://www.dsvgroupsite.info/DOWNLOADS/squeeze%20page%20for%20aweber%20for%203%20forms.html
Thanks for the info! I really appreciate it!
You are very welcome.
Hello Sharon,
I just discovered you last night while surfing the DIVA MONEY site. Since then I’ve spent about 10 hours so far reading your articles, blogs, etc. What a goldmine of really good relevant information!
I recently retired and have decided to invest in realestate. Would you be so kind and send me a copy of the “property information sheet” that you use? I would be most grateful.
Norman
I have sent those to you Norman.
I am a new investor, just getting started currently working on my first real deal. I live and work in Oklahoma and I hope to learn as I go. I discovered your website from biggerpockets and you have a very good rei blog.
I too would like a copy of your property information sheet and any other rei worksheets that you may offer to a new investor.
Jay – I have sent those to you. Please stop by again.
I am a new selesparson and I would like a copy of the property information sheet that you use. Please send me.
Anna – I have sent your sheets.
I agree with you and I got great information from this site