13 Ways to Build Your Buyer List

Building a Buyers List

Your buyer list is your black book that you should not let others read. You NEED a good buyer list to be successful in wholesale real estate. Think of it this way, how much easier is it to make the right purchases when your wife gives you a list instead of trying to “think” of what she wants? Try the latter and it’s a quick way to get into a fight.

You must have a wide range of buyers. Low End Home Buyers, High End Homes, Rentals, Multi Units, Rehabbers, Newbies and as many Cash Buyers as you can find. These guys make life easier!

Here’s a great list of places you can search to find buyers…

Post ads in your local classifieds

These ads should be simple and to the point. Use a generic ad such as “Home For Sale – 60% ARV in Good Town Town.” When people call, just tell them you don’t currently have any, but you’ll call them when you get your next property.

craig’s list

Run the same ads you place in the classifieds here. Put a phone number and email address in your ads, or better yet, create a capture page and direct them there to sign up. Just remember to keep the ad simple, people tend to stop reading if the ad is too long or complex.

Call to rent signs/ads

Why would you call for signs for rent? Well, because the person who rents the place, the landlord, could be an active investor and looking for more properties. If your area is a high rent area you will find so many buyers it will be fun.

Call for sale announcements

While you call up the rental signs, you can also call up the for-sale ads. Keep track of the seller, and if you find multiple homes being sold by the same person or company, you know you have an investor.

We buy houses signs

Obviously these are investors and if they are active and looking for houses you want them on your list.

call real estate agents

Who has access to the most buyers? real estate agents! Every agent you meet ask them if they have cash buyers. If they get your information or have the real estate agent give them one of your cards.

Ask your buyers

They can be very protective of their buyer lists, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. You might even consider paying a few bucks for your list. Just make sure it’s legit.

Local REI Meetings

Where all investors meet. There is no better place to find a buyer than at one of these meetings. Pass a registration form and also meet as many other investors as possible.

box flyer

If you have a home for sale, place a box of brochures outside so any investors who pass by can get your information and contact you for other deals they may have or find.

Staggered courthouse auctions

Another meeting place for investors. Basically, you want to go wherever the investors are and hand out your business card, as well as collect business cards.

create a blog

This will increase your credibility and help you network with other investors. Those relationships you build here will definitely lead to buyers in the future. This is more of a long-term strategy that should be used in conjunction with the others mentioned above.

hard money lenders

Investors need to borrow the money from somewhere, so you know that hard money lenders have a long list of customers who are likely to share with you or at least pass on their card to you.

MLS looking for cash buyers

In some MLS systems, they keep track of how the house was purchased. Was it paid in cash? If so, you may have an investor, AN INVESTOR WHO BUYS WITH CASH. Be sure to contact this person and see if they are buying more.

The list above should really provide you with a very good list of buyers. Remember to always work to add buyers to your list as investors come and go.

Now you want to know what information you should get from your potential buyers when they contact you. I often ask the following…

• I usually ask them if they still buy,
• what they are looking for,
• what percentage of FMV they are typically paying,
• in which areas of the city they want to buy.

You also need contact information, so get these items…

• Email address
• Company Name
• Name and surname
• Company address
• Preferred Phone
• Type of property you are interested in: Single Family, Multi-Family, Commercial
• cash buyer
• What level of rehabilitation are they comfortable with?

I hope this helps…