With any motivated seller lead the first goal is to get the homeowner to agree to a meeting. The meeting should act as a mini presentation for what you can do and how you plan on doing it without being too over the top. You never want to hide the fact that you are a real estate investor but there is a certain way of delivering your message. Every meeting with a motivated seller should be viewed as an opportunity. They are most likely going to work with someone and that person can be you if you put your best foot forward during your meeting. Here are five tips to help improve every motivated seller meeting you have.
- Consider Your Approach. People like working with people they feel comfortable with. Before diving right into the numbers you should take some time and build a rapport. This starts from the minute you drive up to the property. Wearing a three piece suit may work for some meetings but not for homeowner meetings. You want to respect the process and wear something appropriate but nothing too over the top that creates a negative first impression. As you enter the house you should make small talk and not be afraid to ask about the neighborhood or something timely in pop culture. If you have a good sense of humor you should be willing to make a joke as long as it is in good taste. Usually self-deprecating humor works best. Prior to sitting down you should ask to walk around the property further making the homeowner feel as comfortable as possible with you. By the time you sit down the ice should be broken and there should be little or no uncomfortable feelings.
- Ask Questions. Most of your heavy lifting is done with the initial conversation. When you get to the property the answers should simply confirm what you already know. As you walk the property you should ask questions to get a better sense of their motivation. Find out or reconfirm why they are selling and what prompted their situation. If they say there was a major life event don’t just glaze over this fact. Shift gears and ask what happened and offer any advice you can lend. You want to get your questions answered but you don’t want to sound like you are reading off a script. If the homeowner feels you are insensitive they will surely go find someone else to work with. You can always switch up the pattern you ask questions to find out the information you need. The template you use for sitting down with motivated sellers is just that-a template. You need to have the ability to change gears on the fly all the while still getting the information you need.
- Listen To Answers. A common mistake that many investors make is rushing through the process without listening to the answers. In almost every circumstance the homeowner will tell you want they want, when they want it and whether or not they are really interested in selling. If you are too busy thinking about the next question you will miss out on some valuable information. Don’t be afraid to let the homeowner go with their answers. This is usually a very difficult time in their lives and they have probably been holding things in for some time. If they want to talk about the process and what led them to this point you should have a compassionate ear. You should also be ready to answer any questions they have. As unfortunate as it is homeowners need to be on alert for scammers. Don’t take it personally if they ask to verify you and your company.
- Ask About Goals. It is not uncommon for a motivated seller to have unrealistic expectations for the process. They may have heard a story from a friend or family member about how things went for them and want the same on their transaction. Without knowing exactly what the homeowner wants it can be difficult moving forward. Everything starts with the sales price. If you are far apart on value your first goal is to get the seller to see your number. You can do this by calmly pointing out the flaws of the property without being too critical. You should also use comparable sales and current listings to support your argument. This information should be readily available at your meeting but you should only use if needed. Next you need to get an idea of their timeframe. If the seller doesn’t want to close for six months and you want to close in two you need to figure out how to bridge the gap. It is important that you understand the homeowner’s goals and explain what is realistic and what may be impossible to attain.
- Lean But Don’t Push. You want to know where you stand immediately following the meeting. Depending on how close you are will determine your next course of action. On one hand you always want to push for an answer but on the other if you push too hard you may discourage the seller. The best way to do this is by asking for answers on a predetermined date but make that date far enough away so they have time to think things over. Always remember what may be just a deal to you is much more important for the seller.
By definition motivated sellers are ready to take action. Use these tips to help convert more meetings into actual deals.
