BIG Money Ideas are ALL Around!

[Dien Rice]

Hi Michael,

I don't know if this is addressing the concerns of your post... But I'd say you CAN learn many useful things from all kinds of sources...

I believe that knowledge is knowledge - no matter what path it took to reach you.

I see knowledge as something neither "good" nor "bad", but neutral... Almost any kind of "knowhow" can be used for "good" or "bad" - it depends on how it's applied...

For example, learning how to raise funds would seem to be "good". And it is "good" if the funds are raised for some worthwhile cause... But if this knowledge is used to raise funds for an "evil" cause, then the application of this knowledge is no longer "good". But the knowledge of how to raise funds itself, I think is neutral - it's how it's applied which can be either "good" or "bad".

Also, learning how to create poison would seem to be "bad" - since it could be used to hurt or kill. But if that knowledge is used to help prevent people from being poisoned, then using that knowledge could be "good" and used to save lives. However, I see the knowledge itself as "neutral" - it all depends how it's applied.

I don't think any of this changes no matter what pathway that knowledge took to reach you.

Sorry for gettin' all philosophical on everyone...

Anyway, that's my view on that issue...

- Dien

[Dien Rice]

Hi James,

My post was actually more of a reply to Michael's than to Don's, and I was talking more about general principles...

However, I did my own search and I found a house which is apparently in Roseburg, Oregon, which is selling for $4.75 million.

http://www.roseburgmoves.com/viewdet...ing_id=6051747

This suggests they have expensive places plus cheap places too. Maybe you were talking about just a part of Roseburg, not all of it?

This isn't a comment about the worthiness (or not) of Don's idea, since I don't have sufficient business experience with real estate agents to assess that...

- Dien

Jim,

A quick search revealed over 250 homes listed in Roseburg, Oregon:

(see http://www.roseburghomes.com/localsearch_results.html)

With an abundance of homes listed at $500,000 and up, an average sales price of $465,000 appears accurate, and is not uncommon in small communities throughout the Pacific NW.

As far as the RE Listing Sheet Advertising idea, I disagree with the “tone” of your assessment, and don't see what good could come from labeling any ideas on this forum like that.

However, without first testing it in the marketplace, my guess is that few Realtors would be interested in simply placing ads on the back, and for the reasons you state.

But the back of those sheets are blank and those eyeballs can be difficult and pricey to reach. So for that reason alone, I think it would be interesting to explore what is, and what else could be done with this surprisingly wasted space.

One thing that comes to mind is the way Joseph Cossman tried to include an FAQ on the back of every circular. And how he used this technique in some very creative and effective ways -- like helping store clerks to identify counterfeits by putting this info on the back of one of his product sheets to help secure more valuable counter space!

And I'm wondering what other helpful information would house hunters like to receive?

What type of unanswered questions do they have?

What type of questions and answers could you provide that tie-in to complimentary local product or service endorsements?

What are the most profitable endorsements to offer?...

The way prices have jumped more people are “flipping” houses, and it seems like something like this could work with helpful ideas for “fixer-upper” listings.

And I know from hosting open houses to sell an old family home how many prospects would walk through each room discussing improvement ideas. What if you could plant those seeds prior to each tour?

Anyway, just a few thoughts, but I think Don's Listing Sheet Advertising idea is a very interesting one that could be twisted into other more effective and profitable sales tools then what exists.

Any suggestions?

Cheers,

Rod Carr

It's "interesting"....how the conversation can go from a 'Positive-Doable-Original" money-making BUSINESS idea starting with NOTHING but a 'Sample"....into....

"The PRICE of Homes in Roseburg, Oregon.

Speaking of which...I can provide Links to over 20 Houses listed for over 1 Mill. Here's one for $929,000... http://www.allstaterealestate.com/vi...1&last=results

Here's some for $2 Million and UP! http://www.roseburghomes.com/ in the box, type in $1 million and up....and see what comes up.

Again....this program is FREE to Real Estate Agents. The "sponsors" on the BACK pay HANDSOMELY to be seen by people searching for homes to buy!

And again....I am NOT "selling" this program! I thought I'd drop in here and provide a "CONCRETE" ....ORIGINAL IDEA....that maybe SOMEONE could pick up and run with.....without spending more than 50cents in paper and ink. A DOABLE program for making money from home. Just make up a Sample and go show it to some real estate offices. THEY will tell you who THEY prefer to have on the Back of their Listing Sheets.

Don Alm

Get 10 sponsors (listings/ads) per sheet. Charge each one $10 per home covered. That's $100 per home. Give each home seller 1/2, you wind up with $50 per home x 20 homes = $1,000.

No need to even print special fliers -- just print all of them the same, then have the home sellers staple the sheet to their existing sheets they have in their waterproof boxes outside their homes.

Just make sure their phone #'s are not ont the do not call list before you call them to pitch the idea.

NOt as efficient as doing it with a real estate agent, but still.

-- TW