Interested In A Pre-Foreclosure - Send Postcard

When potential buyers are interested in a home that has been listed as a pre-foreclosure – send postcard should be their first thought. Although it may seem impersonal or like a bulk mail out, for a buyer looking a home in pre foreclosure, send postcard, send letter or make a phone call are really the best options rather than an in person visit. While making an in person visit is still a good option, it also may be very intrusive to the homeowner, plus it requires that you travel to the home and simply take the chance of actually finding the owners at home, which can be challenging, especially if you live in a different city or area.

From a listing service, determine which homes are in the area that you are interested in and are currently in pre-foreclosure. Send postcards to the homeowners, but try to address the card directly to the current owner, not just with a generic greeting such as "Dear Homeowner". This little personalization will ensure that the homeowner understands that you have at least taken the effort to look up their name and are not simply mailing out to everyone in the neighborhood or area.

The sample for a pre-foreclosure send postcard template can be found on many different real estate investment sites, but typically the format of the postcard will be similar to the example provided below. The general format of the postcard should include:

• A sentence to the homeowner explaining why you are contacting them regarding the purchase of their home.

• An interest in working with the homeowner to avoid foreclosure and the negative affect it will have on their credit score.

• Contact information for you such as an email, business or personal phone number or cell phone number.

• Information about you – are you a sales agent or marketing company, a listing service or in interested potential private buyer.

The format for the pre foreclosure postcard should not look exactly the same as what other companies or interested buyers are offering. The more personalized and supportive the postcard is, the more likely the homeowner will be to take the time to call you or make contact. For a property you are interested in that is in pre foreclosure, send postcard first, then follow up with either a longer letter or a phone call about a week to two weeks after the original postcard has been sent. If the homeowner is not interested in discussing a possible sale at this time, ask if you can call back in a month, which will give them time to work with the lender and make the decision to short sell the house or refinance.