BANDITS If you AREN'T using them and aren't moving, that's your problem!

Iam in the same position Mmatt73. Lots of fear from the unknown but we will never get anywhere if we dont take action. We are no different from the successful people when they started. Action overcomes fear. You lose 100% of the chances you dont take. What have you got to lose?

Jen, great post and so right on!

I SO agree with Bill and Val. You inspire us to NO end!!

I'm just dying 'cause I can't afford to purchase my signs at the moment, but YOU know the plan! That day is coming SOON...I just KNOW it!!!

You have me so fired up with your enthusiasm that all I can say is "put me in coach; I'm ready to play!!!

Oh, and BTW; War Eagle!!lol

Diane, You have a great idea about your signs. That shows initiative and a use of your resources. You are taking action and that's what counts. Maybe I need to consider till I can purchase the corrugated ones. Just keep pluggin'. I feel as though we may have something in common, both being at this awhile. We will get there, but only if we just "refuse to lose". You know, if you knock on enough doors, one will eventually open.

I lvoe your statement Jen.

"GREAT news - Your success is in YOUR hands! BAD news - Your success is in YOUR hands! The outcome is YOUR decision!"

We have only ourselves to blame for our failures. Many times failure is good for us as it teaches us. In my opinion there are only two real failures in life. Giving up and never trying.

Keep Rockin' It Bammagirl

What to do in an area, i.e, city,that seems to be quite active with Bandit Signs.? Do you still put yours up, or scout out other cities in the area.?

I would like to get an Dedidicated Phone # and Single Page website for it. Should be cheep.

Great post, thank you for letting us know how simple it really is at times.

Gil

You are so inspiring, positive and uplifting Jen. Thank you for being such an inspiration to everyone reading your posts.

Thanks everyone. I'm blessed that a few had a little 'take away' from my postings. Always striving to 'leave it' better than I 'found it' so to speak.

Seeing alot of comments on fear and unknown, etc. TRUST ME, we've all been there. We've all had 'junk' to go through and deal with, overcome. Whether is in the physical realm or mental. Keep moving forward, it WILL start to come together. Only way to overcome the unknown is to get into the known. Relax a bit, take some pressure off. Focus on what you add not what you can take away. So what if you goof up a deal, phone call or contact. Learn from it and get out there again.

If you really have a hang up of the phone or afraid of talking to someone. Go to Craigslist choose a totally DIFFERENT state/city got to the RE Sections, Rental Sections and start making calls. PRACTICE. Who cares if you mess it up, you have no interest in that state or city. Not the point, point is to get the FEAR OUT! I did this with properties, banks, etc. I got the mess-ups out the way and MADE myself make 15-20 ++ calls. THEN started calling on what I WAS interested in. If not sooner by that 10th call you are speaking clearly, have gotten into a rhythm and gained a little confidence. Keep control of the conversation and limit YOUR talk time. Ask the questions that will give you the information to be able to go back on the followup and really get into the negotiations. I ask open ended questions and get the SELLER to talking. To create for them an atmosphere that is conducive for them to open up and give me the true details of what's going on. SO that I can then, fit the strategy/s that will fit the property. aka creating the deal

If you still have a hick-up there, use the higher authority approach. That you work with partners that buy properties just like yours and that you are the front person gathering information to determine whether or not the property is one in which your partners may be interest in moving forward on. If you are wholesaling each line of this is 100% the truth. It's all about the confidence, staying in control and the approach. but by talking the higher authority approach takes the heat away if you are or from being grilled like an onion. They know you aren't he buyer, but you are their only connection to the buyer. make sense?

Tomorrow MAKE it a priority to make a min. of 5 calls to I don't care properties BEFORE you call on the few you've been seeing or passed a FSBO sign in the yard. I don't care if you throw-up first, MAKE the calls. IT IS OUTSIDE THE COMFORT ZONE THAT YOU GROW!! If you do this, you will have a renewed energy, feel and be more confident and completely FIRED up and want really give a rip about the properties. BECAUSE there is pride and an amazing sense of self worth when you MASTER yourself and your fear.

MAKE it Happen! Then rinse and repeat!

It's when the pain of NOT doing it becomes GREATER than the pain of doing it that the magic happens!
Blessings,
Jen

Fear can overwhelm us and rob us of many rewards that life has to offer. I know this from personal experience with friendships and relationships as well as business. Like you I am a little anxious as well.

A couple things to consider.
1 - Rethink about your why.
Your why is your desire and is always the driving factor in everything we do. If your desire(drive) is not stronger than the discomfort of growing pains then you need to really think about your why and determine what it really is.
I always say that my why is my family but really it goes deaper than that. When I did the 7 layers of why that Dean suggested I found that my true why is relief. And I'm not talking about the kind of relief the spells R-O-L-A-I-D-S. I am talking about knowing that I can live in a neighborhood with great schools or having the means to send my daughter to private school. Know that my wife and family are taken care of. Knowing that I don't have to worry about losing my job.

2 - Most thinks are uncomfortable at first. Think about some of the jobs you have held. Surely some of them were difficult to grasp and uncomfortable in the beginning but you got yourself through it and that job became like second nature to you.

If you are going to do this you will have no choice but to start out of your comfort zone so you might as well do it now.

I look foward to reading posts from both of you regarding your first deals in the very near future.

I try not to spend too much time on here because I get caught up and before I know it the day is done and I did not accomplish everything for the day. I miss out on a lot of new posts so please make sure I hear of your upcoming success. I don't know either of you but I know both of you can do it. If Donald Trump can be succesful in real estate then surely we can.(Sorry if your a Donald Trump fan)

Keep up the good work Jen. I hope you can make it to the 2012 Edge event.

Steve.

Thanks Steve! You guys too....ALWAYS killing it! Heck I'm just trying to keep up! HAHA!!

Absolutely Edge 2012 is a done deal!!! Also booked on the cruise!

Can NOT WAIT!!! Going to be awesome!

Jen

Gil,
I can not respond to your question regarding the bandits signs as I am still waiting on my first batch to arrive but I bought the magic jack to use as my phone line. I just moved to this area a couple months ago and my cell# is out of the area. A land line is too expensive in my opinion. The magic jack is $40 then $20 a year after that. In addition it is not traceable and you can forward it to your cell phone. One downside though is that you have to make sure that you PC or Laptop is on at all times. The Magic Jack shuts off when the computer shuts off.

o.k. John, you just lost 2 cool point with the War Eaglet! LOL!! But still wuv u!

Heck yeah, know what's coming! You will BLOW it wide open!

Believe in you!

Please don't hesitate to call if I can serve you in any way.

Blessings,
Jen

I've got 25 signs all printed up and I made a hammer with a long handle to put them up high and a holder stick to hold them up while I nail them,and got another 25 blank yellow signs coming. I hate to admit it, but Im actually scared to go put them up. I got a google voice number that the bandit police cant trace. I've done a few deals using craig's list but its going slow.
I need more deals. I need to go out there and do this. Do ur signs get taken? Does anybody call and threaten u with tickets? Do u put them out at night? Rando1

Hey Randy.

I've tried all times of day, different days, etc. to put them out. I get the best results putting them out late of Friday night. I usually head out about 8 or 9:00 p.m. Doing this has resulted in a longer exposure rate (not taken down over the weekend). Plus less traffic. I've also played around with putting out on Friday and picking them up on Sunday. Now I don't even do that. I put them out and one by on they will slowly disappear into the dark realm of vanishing bandit signs. So far I have never gotten a call or complaint to have them removed. If you get a call apologize ask where the sign was and go remove that ONE. lol I've had some get taken overnight, then had some last 6 months.

Don't worry, if you get a call/complaint they aren't going to throw us in bandit jail. lol. Reminds me of a thread a posted on long time ago. Still tickles me to think about it. The scenario of getting locked up, me looking over at some guy and saying "what are you in for?" he goes "robbed a bank!" Then he say to me "what are you in for?" I say, "putting out bandit signs!" LOL!! Sorry couldn't help humoring my self this morning!

Jen,
that is hilarious!!! now I have an image in my mind of you in your striped outfit nicknamed 'the bandit sign lady' lol

I WILL see you at the Edge 2012!!!! absolutely! cruise? still working on that one!

maybe by then I will be able to bring a photo of me putting up a bandit sign-yikes! working on it...

just following your lead...

Learning and progressing every day,
Val

TOO funny! The whole late night bandit sign campaign, well to me is kind of exilerating. Darting across street, late night, trying not to get hit by cars, mugged, or ran off! Exilerating in a kind of sick/weird adrenaline rush way! haha! Trust me I'm sure if someone was a fly on the wall would definately have a good laugh at me putting them out. Flashlight in back pocket, cell phone and .380 on my hip, then sign, stake and mallet in hand running across the street! On lookers have to think the crazy woman just escaped from some where!

whoohoo! CAN'T wait til Edge! Going to so awesome! Hope the cruise works out and you're able to go!!

Jen

Thank you for this post Jen. Your timing is perfect. I made 10 signs and put them out 2 weeks ago and did not get a single response. I placed them in parking lots with Walmart and McDonald's. It has been raining quite a bit, so maybe that was an issue? I did drive by to make sure the signs withstood the weather.

I hesitated ordering from SignWarehouse because I got lost in the details. Thanks for posting the invoice info. This way I just searched on your info and placed an order for 50 signs and stakes. Will try again, with greater volume and new locations.

Thanks again,

Gina

Yes, Gist I got lost there too. Jen another great post and yes I can see you in the striped jumpsuit along with the rest of us. They'll have to open a whole new jailhouse wing for us. Thank you Andy for the "yellow sign" clarification. I have another question about phones. I tried to do google voice several times, but it wouldn't take the number. I couldn't get the video tutorials either. Could someone explain what I need to do to get a google voice number. Uh duh! Thanks.. Tammy

No doubt. The bandit signs really work. The right message, and the right location. I will be out again this weekend. Last weekend I put out only three(3) signs and I got around 20 calls on one of them and maybe one or two on another, and zero on the third. And I got some great buyer leads because that's what I was looking for. Then I kept getting calls during the week even after I took the sign down. Oh, and I also put an ad on craigslist and I got one call from that.

My bandit sign was trying to get buyers. Here is what I said:

For Sale
3BR/2BA Home
$37K
612-xxx-xxxx

That's it! Of course I do have a real home for sale so I had a couple of people come out to take a look, then others who gave me their info of what they were really looking for.

BANDITS!

Roger Schafer
Jaguar Investment Group

Oh My God I love it. I had a couple of chuckles along the way getting caught up with the post and picked up some new insight also. You know there are always those that will pick on the little guy. They are like bullies even those in the city, state, and federal gov't that pick on the little guy. We ain't nothing but a hounddog. Let's Rock and Roll gang. T hee T hee T hee.

So I noticed a couple of people noted how much they paid to have the signs made and the pricing was not bad if you have the money to pay for them and most likely they used a credit card. Hmmm I got rid of my personal credit cards and someday I will get some cards for business credit lines. In the meantime I must be creative and I find the Gee Whiz apple boxes work great. I get 4 bandit signs and 4 yard sale signs out of one box that has a top and bottom. Then I use my black marker, nails and a hammer to put them up where ever I can. The only other thing I could use is some wood stakes to attach to some bandit signs.

Now for Randy I think I picked up on something in what you said. Could it be that we are afraid we might just get what we want? Maybe we need to answer the why we would be afraid of getting what we really do want. For me I know that what we are talking about is a lot of work in some cases and not wanting to let anyone down if we are not able to deliver what we say we will deliver. Hmmmm mmmm Does that make sense ?

Jen Thanks again and keep it coming. You have such a way with words and keen senses. You got it going on girl and I think I love you (sisterly love in Christ Jesus). May the circle be unbroken.

So far I have watered my front yard this morning early and I fed my parrots and my dog and then just had my breakfast while reading this post and replying. Now I gotta go get my signs ready and I picked up new ideas from you on where to place them. Also I have to price things for garage sale. So much to do and so little time. That is another reason why I have to make REI work so that I will have enough money and more time to enjoy life and show care to others. Have a great day and I will check back on this post later.

Hey Jen how do you pitch a subject to deal to a potential seller?

Thanks again for the support. I really do appreciate it. Yes I did get Dean's book Totally Fulfilled and I got half way thru it and am trying to get back to it. I have a list a mile long of things I need to do and that book is on the list. Balance is something I work on everyday to try to keep myself on track and keep from getting overwhelmed. I am really glad that I have so much to do because I never get bored and it provides the challenge that a single person needs. It can be very depressing when you do not have people in your life and I can not afford to go into clinical depression as it would not get me anywhere. Totally Fulfilled has all the answers. Here is where I always thank God for Dean Graziosi. He is the best and God took that skinny cute little boy from the trailer park with a broke mom and gave him to his Grandma so she could impart her knowledge and wisdom into him. We are all so blessed because of it. Just think about it - we would not have this website and all these wonderful people who communicate daily and help each other. I am in awe.

Thanks for the pat on the shoulder and the words of encouragement. Yes you are right. We do have to keep pluggin along and we will make it. We just have to believe and put forth the effort and continue to daily gain insight and educate ourselves. Have a great day.

We might get 99 no before we get a yes but it will happen. Once we do get the yes I believe it will put a big crack in the dam wall to allow the flow of deals to begin.

I am impressed. I just went back and scanned the post again to see what I might have missed. A .380 on the hip, cell phone, flashlight etc. - - - - The lady is packing heat. I love it. I have been thinking of getting myself some heat to be on the safe side and the other day I saw something on the internet news about the number of women who have firearms. I did not take time to read it and if I see it again I will take the time.

I got a Walmart Money card, its a prepaid Visa, its free online and only 3 buks a month and 3 buks to load any amount up to $3,000 When I went to the islands last winter I had 2 and they work at the ATM's and I use them to order supplies online like bandit signs or gas etc. I got my signs at blankyardsigns.com its a lot easier to order, I paid 120 buks for 50 that incluses shipping. And for being scared of becoming a success. Wow thats deep, cud be. But I know I want it more than I'm fearful. I have already done a few deals and I've tasted a few morsels of easy fast cash, and I'm hungry. I'm putting out my bandit signs this friday afternoon.

I have a tendancy to go deep every now and then. We do want those deals and I will feel so much better after I get the first one. Although I consider the house I am living in to be my first real deal because I did not put money down and did it by myself on a Nehemiah gifted loan in 2000. It was a special program for first time buyers and the banks were more helpful then. My focus now is on fsbo's and assignments and bird dogging. I gotta get the signs up and go door knocking. Good luck to you.

I've seen some posts as to where to buy your signs. Just wanted to provide some feedback on my experience. I purchased my first batch of signs with SignWarehouse early yesterday morning. I paid the standard shipping. 50 yellow corrogated signs with full size stakes and shipping was $115.12. UPS just dropped them off!!! I would not waste your money on expedited shipping.

Buy "H" garden stakes at Home Depot or Lowes. It comes in a big roll, and you can cut the stakes yourself, with tin snips. I think the rolls are about $10 or so. Also, try wooden garden stakes ~ they come in a big bundle for a little over $20 for a big bunch. You only need 1 wooden stake per sign, and a good flat hammer to hit the sign in the ground.

Or, make yourself a sign hammer & holder & put up the signs on a telephone pole, at least 10 ft. high. Or, you can use zip ties and attach the signs to poles that aren't wooden.

I like these ideas, and the advice you come up with that works for you.

I have multiple local google voice numbers I use, which you can also have forward to your phone if you take your live calls. You don't need it hooked up to a computer to work, either.

Hey Dallas,

You are right. Can make cost effective modifications. I was just laying out exactly what I used. But we all have to do what ever we need to, to get what we want to.

Don't have to get it perfect, just have to get it going!

Great value add Dallas!

Make it happen!
Jen