now, i deal with mobiles but use an identical ad to bring my buyers. The folks i am trying to target are the renters. I want them to realize as they are flipping thru the sunday paper that they are wasting money renting and would be better off if they started owning. so i run my ads in the “houses for rent” section. I have found that i get a much better response there than i do in the “mobiles for sale” I realize that we are dealing with different products here…but you may consider trying that same ad in the “houses for rent” section. if your results are like mine, your phone won’t stop ringing. good luck. hope this helps…
Re: My L/O ad only had 4 calls what is the problem? - Posted by B.L.Renfrow
Posted by B.L.Renfrow on March 27, 2000 at 09:12:30:
I have found through trial and error I get much better results when I include the rent amount in the ad. I get fewer calls, but the ones who do call are already at least a little bit prequalified, because the ones who don’t have two nickels usually won’t call when the rent is included, but they ALWAYS call if it’s not.
I never include the option consideration, as I want to be able to negotiate that. Instead, I say something like “easy qualifying” or “low down”.
I also include the street name, though usually not the number. And, I agree about dropping the 1 bedroom and re-wording that line about the remodeled garage!
Finally, in the price range in which I usually do L/Os, I get the best results if the first words in the ad are: RENT TO OWN (in caps). If it’s a higher end property, I will instead say LEASE W/PURCHASE OPTION or something similar, but if it’s a “blue collar” property, the rent to own phrase has enormous appeal.
You may also want to change “2 car garage recently remodeled” to “recently remodeled, 2 car garage”, unless you actually meant you say that you remodeled the garage.
Re: My L/O ad only had 4 calls what is the problem? - Posted by Bill K. -FL
Posted by Bill K. -FL on March 27, 2000 at 08:23:08:
Tim,
Don’t over look the FREE internet advertising that is available on such sites as Excite.com and Yahoo.com. Most sites let you run up to ten ads absolutely FREE. Then you can advertise in all the different subcategories. When I look at the results of who actually bought from me it is usually someone who saw my internet ad. I have wasted a lot of time on the phone with people who called on my newspaper ad. Many are realtors or other investors. If you are looking for owner occupant end users don’t overlook the internet. Keep a mailing list of everyone who responds for your future deals.
I find that in my area people generally do not understand what the ad means when it says ‘owner finance’ or ‘seller finance’. They do, however, understand ‘owner will hold mortgage’.
Maybe in your area is similar. You just have to find what the local lingo is.
Tim: In addition to the other good comments I definately see the “1” bathroom as a big negative. I think I would delete that from my ad. Get them involved in the other features of the home first and it will help to minimize the negative of the one bath.
Re: My L/O ad only had 4 calls what is the problem? - Posted by Russ Sims
Posted by Russ Sims on March 26, 2000 at 21:27:57:
I get about 50% more calls when my ad says “bad credit okay” or “will consider poor credit”. There are legions of prospects out there who think their bad credit automatically disqualifies them…when I talk to them they’ll often say that they’ve just had a bankruptcy, or perhaps a divorce…I can work with that!
Russ
You won’t get many calls in the for sale section. Put it in the for rent section. And say:
Lease Option to buy. $000.000 DOWN, $000.00 PER MONTH. OWN YOUR OWN HOME. The address is important too. Bedrooms, etc. I know the ads can get pricey, but your phone will ring off the hook if you put it in the houses for rent. Renters want to buy, just don’t think they can, so they won’t even look in the for sale section.
Re: My L/O ad only had 4 calls what is the problem? - Posted by Steve-Atl
Posted by Steve-Atl on March 27, 2000 at 08:41:48:
I agree with Sheik. It does depend on your local lingo. In general the simplier the language the better. I use:
NO BANKS REQUIRED
Lease purchase or owner finance
3br/2ba traditional
$xpur pricex 444-444-4444
I do list purchase price but do not list down payment or monthly payment. I always try to discover how much they have to put down in the first phone call.