Tracking the leads and following up on the calls are daily routines for a successful investor - but how do they get people to call them in the first place?  How do they find these great deals and make all the cash we hear about?  Here's a few great ways to get started with little or no money.

Bandit signs - one of the most tried and true methods for getting distressed sellers to call you is by using bandit signs.  Not only is it the most cost effective way to get the word out, it is also the most popular.  The real key to  using bandit signs is consistency and volume.  If you are placing only a few signs out there to entice sellers to call, you may get a few calls, but not enough to warrant the work.  You need to be putting 20, 30, or even 50 signs out at a time to capture a large enough audience to make it worth your while.

Through years of trial and error, i have found that it is best to find a local company to do this for you.  Visit your home builders and local stores and ask them who is putting out their advertisement signs.  Chances are, they have a local company that drives the locations 2 or 3 times a week and are placing and removing their signs each week for a nominal fee.

Also, make sure you are tracking your calls on these signs.  You might use a different name on you signs based on the location they are placed, so you know what signs are getting the most attention.  Then you can concentrate your bandit sign marketing in those areas.

Dumpster driving - I like to drive neighborhoods in search on the trash homes that are in the need of repair.  I'll take down the address and take a picture of the home and then research the owner and call them to see if the house is for sale.  Oftentimes, the owner will say it is not for sale or they are already working with someone to sell it.  Use this opportunity to let them know you are an investor and give them your information, just in case their situation changes.

If the owner seems likely to be swayed, or you find that it is a deal not worth passing up, go ahead and send them a letter with all of your contact information and a little about what you do.  Owners are less likely to throw away a hand written letter with a business card if they see that you are genuine in your request.  You never know when you might receive a call, so never pass up the opportunity.

Investment Clubs -  many people think that real estate investment clubs are full of big headed people looking to brag about their deals, well.. ya, but they are also a great place to pick up deals.  Why reinvent the wheel when you can get great deals without work. 

During most real estate club meetings there is an informal time during which members can exchange info and try to sell off their deals.  On occasion, there will be investors that are wholesaling a recent contract on a home or bird dogs that is trying to recruit investors to buy their leads.  Whatever the case, this a great means to find investments, or sell them.