Walter, Personally I’ve never used the squirrel dog technique… old cars, appliances, skirting… never done it. What I have learned to do, and done, is buy homes at wholesale prices and resell at a higher price to people who might not be able to buy any other way. It may sound cliche but it’s win-win. No moral compromise there.
Don’t be so literal, the book is a framework.
Step 1 - Turn off the TV and get off the couch.
Step 2 - Visit some parks, chat up some park managers and residents (Make sure the you and the PM are on the same page).
Step 3 - Figure out what homes sell for.
Step 4 - Start talking to some people who NEED to sell (you’ll recognize them when you see them).
Step 5 - Let them name a price that is half or less than what you can sell for (it may take several visits for them to “come out of their coma”. Some never will… move on.)
(NOTE: No matter what, especially at first, resist the temptation to buy a junker and fix it up. There is no need to buy any junkers.! Repeat that several times).
Step 6 - Use signs, Craigslist, Pennysaver, pamphlets in the local gas stop, door hangers in the park etc to find someone who wants to buy on terms and has some cash for a down payment.
Step 7 - Get them approved by the park, collect the down, sign papers for the rest.
Step 8 - Rinse and repeat.
Yes there are details to be filled in but that’s basically it. If at any time you feel you are not acting in an ethical manner, stop, it’s not necessary. You are buying at wholesale, selling at retail just like Wal-Mart (ok that may not be a good example) or any retailer. What you are selling is not the home, it’s the opportunity to buy that your market would not ever have trying to do it conventionally.
Take a deep breath, read the books, adapt a bit (tiny bit) to your market and psyche. Go have some fun.
Lyal