Time and time again, if you want to achieve something significant quickly, learning from someone who's been there before is crucial. This principle rings true with wholesale real estate expert Zack Boothe, who has consistently made a million dollars a year for the past five years. Zack's strategy revolves around "driving for dollars," which involves identifying rundown properties, securing them under contract, and then selling these contracts to cash-paying investors in exchange for a finder's fee.
If you're considering quitting your nine-to-five job, seeking to replace your income, craving more freedom, or even looking to fund an expensive hobby like racing cars, Zack's insights will be invaluable.
The Power of Cold Calling in Real Estate Wholesaling
Cold calling, as demonstrated by Zack, can be a highly lucrative method to secure deals. Zack's first experience with cold calling involved targeting a code violation list, and within just eleven minutes, he had landed a $9,000 deal. The key to his success lies in the nuances of his cold calling techniques and process. Let's break down his approach to maximize effectiveness.
Crafting the Perfect Cold Calling Script
A successful cold calling script needs to avoid sounding like a typical sales pitch. Here’s Zack’s refined script to increase engagement and curiosity from potential sellers:
- Initial Approach: “Hey, I'm not sure if I have the right number. I'm trying to find the owner of [XYZ address] or the person responsible for the property at [XYZ address].” This opening statement sparks curiosity without sounding overly salesy. It's crucial to create a sense of urgency and personal connection.
- Engaging the Seller: If the recipient shows hesitation or asks questions, respond with a precise yet minimal answer to maintain their curiosity. For example, if asked, "What is this about?" respond with, "I was wondering if you thought of selling or if you'd consider an offer?"
- Handling Different Responses: From Zack's experience, responses generally fall into three categories: yes, no, and hesitation. Your script should prepare you to handle each of these effectively. If a potential seller hesitates or declines initially, having a persistent yet respectful follow-up plan is essential.
"You immediately fire back with the shortest answer you can give them to their question." - Zack Boothe
Maximizing Contact Rates with Effective Dialing Platforms
Zack's success isn't just about the script but also the tools he uses. Over the years, he's tested various dialing platforms, focusing on what provides the highest contact rate. His journey saw him moving from a triple line dialer to a more efficient single-line dialer platform due to changes in regulations impacting phone number spam rates.
The Shift in Dialing Regulations
Due to recent regulatory changes by phone carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, multi-line dialers have seen a decline in efficiency. These systems often result in phone numbers being marked as spam, which dramatically decreases your contact rate. Zack highlights the importance of adapting to these changes to ensure a higher number of meaningful conversations.
- Single-Line Dialer: The new DealMachine platform has transitioned to a single-line dialer to improve contact rates. This approach ensures that calls appear less spam-like and increases the chances of reaching potential sellers.
- Calling Protocol: Zack recommends calling the number and if there's no answer, leaving an AI-generated voicemail. The voicemail should mirror the cold calling script's initial approach to spark curiosity.
Optimizing Your Driving for Dollars List
The driving for dollars strategy is about creating a prioritized list of properties based on various indicators of distress or vacancy. Zack suggests categorizing your list into different segments to maximize efficiency:
- Priority List: Properties that visibly appear vacant should be your top priority. These should be tagged and called first.
- Subsequent Lists: Absentee owners, owner-occupied properties, and corporate-owned properties should follow in that order of importance.
By categorizing and systematically approaching each segment, you can ensure a thorough vetting process, increasing the likelihood of finding a motivated seller.
Key Takeaways
- Cold Calling Script: Avoid sounding like a salesman and cultivate curiosity in the initial approach.
- Dialing Efficiency: Use a single-line dialer to avoid spam issues and implement a structured calling protocol.
- List Prioritization: Categorize your driving for dollars list to hit high-priority properties first.
“Don’t shoot yourself in the foot by not using a tool to have more conversations.” - Zack Boothe
Successfully wholesaling real estate requires a blend of strategic cold calling scripts, effective dialing platforms, and a well-prioritized list. By following Zack’s blueprint, you can maximize your chances of closing deals and achieving financial success.
Conclusion
Real estate wholesaling, when approached with the right tools and strategies, can be a game-changer. Whether you are looking to leave your traditional job, achieve financial freedom, or fund your passions, the insights shared by Zack offer a practical and proven roadmap. Embrace the power of cold calling, leverage efficient dialing platforms, and strategically manage your driving for dollars list to create a thriving wholesaling business.
