I want to start marketing to both Probate and Code violation (vacant homes mainly) owners.
I hear that timing is most important in Probate - wondering what time frame those of you who do it do it in.
For codeviolation marketing I am unsure if to do a yellow letter type mailing, or a postcard, or what.
Let me know what you guys think.
Thanks!
I have never done code violation but i do market to probates. In Phoenix, I wait for the probate listings to be published in the legal paper and go to the courthouse to pull files from that. I send my letters that same day. The legal paper has it published 2-3 weeks after the probate files were originally opened. In AZ people can wait up to 2 years before they even open a probate file on an estate. In my opinion, most of the time, once the probate file has been started, the PR is past the heavy grieving and ready to settle the estate so don’t wait, send that letter ASAP before I beat ya to it!
phatman5,
I have market to probate and code violation. Code violation I would use a postcard with “Address Service Requested” under your address. This will provide you with a new forwarded address (yellow sticker) if it is vacant. Hopefully
I hear that timing is most important in Probate - wondering what time frame those of you who do it do it in.
I have my best results at 6 weeks after they file and again to them in another 6 weeks.
For codeviolation marketing I am unsure if to do a yellow letter type mailing, or a postcard, or what.
For vacant property, develop your list in an excel spread sheet and do a mail merge in microsoft word so you have a typed letter that is personalized with their name at the top and pop in their address somewhere in the letter. So it feels like you typed it up FOR THEM. Then put a hand written post it note on it that says “John, Call Me! 000-0000”
Definitely put Return Service Requested on the envelope and one out of 10 that come back will have a good address to send it back to. For the others, do a people search online. Also call these people. When you are doing a search on them you will find various phone numbers.
Average direct mail responses are .5 to 1 percent. I get a 15-20% response rate from doing that.
hanks for the information and sharing. great info. Keep it up.