No, you do not have to do this, although many real estate professionals do. Door knocking has proven to be one of several successful strategies for finding properties to list, wholesale or buy.
What makes door-knocking so scarey for people? Is it the fear of personal safety in the danger of meeting strangers? Go with a buddy.
Is it fear of vicious animals behind locked doors? I do not open any locked fences or gates to knock on doors, nor do I trespass where there are “No Trespassing” or “No Soliciting” signs. I do not go where I may not be wanted.
Is it fear of rejection, that someone may not open a door, may not answer a door, or may say “I’m not interested.” Better get over this, if you hope to be successful in real estate. More people will tell you “no” than “yes” in your career. Just move on, and don’t take it personally.
Is it lack of knowledge about what to say? Then let’s dive in with some suggestions below.
I knock on doors with my mortgage lender to introduce ourselves as neighborhood real estate specialists. I leave door hangars, along with my business card, if there is no answer. If someone does answer, I simply introduce myself and hand them a flyer showing real estate sales activity in their neighborhood. I ask them to give me a call if I may ever answer any real estate questions for them.
Investor Bill Schilling uses door-knocking as an occasional technique to find dilapidated properties that meet his buying criteria, and it constitutes a small percentage of his investment business. But in fact, he got his last property under contract, by knocking on the doors of the neighbors and getting the references he needed to approach the owner.
He believes that door-knocking can be an inexpensive way for new investors to find leads and to make themselves known as investors.
REAPS board member and real estate broker Greg Gallagher uses door knocking as one of his primary methods for finding properties for himself and for clients. He usually begins by asking the person answering the door, “I am buying houses in your neighborhood. Do you know anyone in the neighborhood who may be in trouble or need to sell their house?”
If no one answers the door, he will often leave a little sticky note that says “I want to buy your house. If you are interested in selling, please contact me” with his name and phone number.
Because he also does this for clients who want to buy houses in foreclosure, it can be more antagonistic to the foreclosed homeowners. In these cases, Greg goes with his gut, avoiding houses or owners that appear more threatening.
REAPS member Alberto Stein Rios relates a story of knocking on a scarey “jungle house” overgrown with weeds and very neglected that was inhabited by a hermit, whom he never met, despite leaving notes and going to knock on the front and back door three times. Wisely, he decided to drop his pursuit of this property, when he just felt too uncomfortable being there. Door knocking is clearly not for everyone.
Most people are very pleasant, however, and it is a great way to spend a sunny day in my neighborhood. I have met many neighbors and other real estate investors this way. So give it a try, keep a smile on your face, be safe, and
happy investing!
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