Like many of you, I get mail from investors “wanting to buy my property. Quick close, cash”. I’m not interested in selling especially at a discount. This mail goes straight into the garbage.

However, I received a postcard that REALLY caught my attention. It was a pink postcard with big bold letters of TERMINATION NOTICE on it. That immediately got my attention as I thought something bad was going on at the address of the rental property listed. What was being terminated was the cash offer on the property in one week.

Still not interested in selling but I thought those of you who do postcard mailings might be interested in this.

Interesting. I'm not interested in giving any business to someone who's not forthright about what they want from the get-go--- relying on a gimmicky thing to grab my attention, and then saying, "Well, this is really about something totally different."

What got my attention was someone called my wife's cell phone , asking if she wanted to sell a specific property in her name . The strange thing was that we have NEVER used this cell phone number in conjunction with ANY rental. Not in any city paperwork, ads, contractor contacts etc.

David,

Google has connected you, her, the property, and phone numbers. I was filling out a small form online and ALL my address info self-filled.

Beth,

Love it! Glad you were not terminated!

Your address info self-filled because of your browser's local data. Not because it pulled that from any database online.

- John...

LofF: "Hand delivering them" how? I mean, if he's actually meeting the people, then why the envelope? Or do you mean he just leaves it in their front door or something? (Note that leaving it in their mailbox is technically illegal -- my local postmaster throws a FIT and threatens legal action if you do that here.)

- John...

I like it. Maybe include a picture of Ahh-nold on it. For the follow up, you could say, "I'll be bah-ck."

Another strategy I've heard that works well is pictures of dogs...cut smiling ones like labs or golden retrievers. 70% of the people who contact me regarding a rental seem to have dogs.

I heard a presentation that marketing is about creating multiple "touch points" with your target audience, so tap into the dog culture and create a furry, smiling touch-point.

{{{{{{{......Another strategy I've heard that works well is pictures of dogs...........}}}}}}

Jumping wildly off topic, but one of the big apartment buildings in my area uses cute photos of dogs with cute dog sayings for their first picture on Craigslist. Ive always thought that would get their ad opened by tenants who like, want, or have a dog.

Deanna, you could write nothing but bad things about me and I would still enjoy your posts.

"not your target audience". Seems like a good way to address these slimes. I've been really inundated by the calls. I tell the person calling to give me the offer, then I ask why they don't have an offer if they called me. I've bought shacks without ever setting foot inside. We know our neighborhoods don't we? So we should know our prices.

(Ahh, but you see what is happening as I write. Emotions. Whereas your simple statement will say volumes ).