it’s been brought to my attention that one may need permission from the town (or an actual legitimite permit) to go doorknocking on peoples homes. can anyone comment on this? this is the first i’ve heard of this.
ryan
Howdy Ryan:
I have heard of door to door salesman sometimes needing a license but not to buy real estate. Why do you want to go door to door any way. Buy a bandit sign or place an ad and get sellers to come to you.
If you’re really set on door-to-door “soliciting” for possible RE deals… just go to that town’s City Clerk and ask if they require a “Solicitor’s License” (most do) for D2D.
I’ve gotten one before and it basically can be done in a day with maybe a nominal filing fee of maybe $15. They give you a form that asks if you’ll be serviing food, using fire, etc. Based on that little quiz they send you to the Police Station for a Criminial History clearance. Passing that, you return the form and they give you a permit good for about 6 months to a year.
The way things are these days, having that permit folded in a badge-holder around you neck adds at least some semblence of credibility that you’re not just stalking the 'hood looking for future criminal activity.
p.s. I’m no lawyer or anything, but from what I remember I never needed one in non-incorporated areas that lack a City Hall. However those rural areas tend to be where the owner probably answers the door with a shot-gun within reach… so be careful out there.
I live in Cali & I need some place that has good signs for a good price. Can you help?
As far as door knocking goes, when is it more favorable to do this:
Monday-thru-Friday, mornings or evenings or both & why?
Saturday or Sunday, " " " " ?
Tony
Whereabouts in California? I have only worked with one company, in the Temecula area.
I’m in the Torrance/Redondo Beach Area.
Congrats. I have family there. Cousins in Torrance and my mother still lives in Gardena. I am the only one in the family with an itch to move. Now I’ve settled in Florida. The system I am following doesnt mention anything about getting a liscence. Only time I know of is when you are selling vacuums and that kind of stuff. Best time for doorknocking is around dinnertime during the week and most anything on the weekends, after 12 on sunday for churchgoers. Hope this helps
steve
When I used to do the door knocking, I waited til mid Saturday or Sunday afternoon. The folks are more than likely be at home, taking care of errands around the house and/or yard.
I remember once when we had a “mentor” come to our town, we went to the neighborhoods from the foreclosures we was looking into at that time. One property had the owner outside on a Sunday afternoon washing her car in the yard. But…don’t do what the mentor did. She approached the homeowner, asked for her name and told her that we was there to help her out because she was in foreclosure! Here the mentor couldn’t wait to go up to the porch or give the homeowner a chance to tell us what was going on. Well naturally, me being very new in the r.e. investing world, felt so bad for the homeowner because the mentor only embarrassed her in broad daylight where the neighbors can hear. Folks, don’t yell at the homeowner loud enough for the neighborhood to hear. The homeowner was furious and ended up storming into the house and slammed the door. We had stopped there once before, the previous day, no one was at home, then went back the next day (that’s when we found the woman washing her “brand new” firebird) Yes, those were her words…“brand new firebird”. We just looked at each other and wondered why the woman was beaming about her “new” car.
We sorta “fired” this mentor because I didn’t think she was helping me in a positive way (at that time).