Finding Motivated Sellers

A listing agent is not the only person that should be motivated to get a home sold, although sometimes this appears to be the case. As a result, listing agents may find themselves struggling to convince a seller to make changes (like price reduction or repair) to get the home sold.

Do you know how to find motivated sellers?

Although finding motivated sellers can be difficult, they can be easy to spot if you know where to look. With the right marketing strategy you can even have motivated sellers coming to you!

3 Ways to Find Motivated Sellers — Or Have Them Find You

1. Check tax records and investigate neglected properties.
   If a homeowner is behind their mortgage then they will be motivated to get rid of their home before their credit rating takes the plunge. Stop by the county clerk’s offices in any county where real estate records are filed and browse through foreclosure notices and you’re bound to find motivated sellers that need your help. Additionally, properties that appear neglected may belong to someone who’s relocated, lost interest, or ran out of cash so they may be interested in listing the home.

    

2. See a “For Sale by Owner” Sign? Call!
   This can be a great way to find motivated sellers – after all, they’ve already taken the initiative to sell the home themselves, so they’ve already got the ball rolling. While you may think it’s a waste of time, it could pay off if they’ve become drained from the home selling process and would prefer to leave the sales job up to the professionals. That’s where you come in.

    

3. Advertise, advertise, and advertise!
   A great way to find motivated sellers is to put your name right where they can see it. Place a short and sweet advertisement in weekly newspapers that simply states why they should list with you. Get a simple vinyl sticker for your rear windshield with a catchy slogan and possibly your website URL or phone number. Order some pens with your company name and contact information and pass them out – make sure your name and brand is readily available.

After awhile you will see that finding motivated sellers is somewhat of an art and will become easier as you explore different methods to find them.