So you have a list that you would like to sell and rent back. How do you go about collecting the names though? marketing could advertise on newspapers, postcards, leaflets and even personal flyers but these are all highly time consuming. The rent to sell companies that you approach will not be willing to spend their time on such a high priority sales programme. However, it is possible to take names via the Internet.

This is not as simple as running an ad in the local paper or on a website. It is worth bearing in mind that the majority of rent to sell companies (about 90%) are online businesses and the accuracy of data provided can vary considerably. Also many people will use fictitious names when registering with rent to sell companies to try to obtain a large discount. In addition there can be problems with the transfer of the money from the original company to your personal bank account. Be careful when giving this information as you could be prosecuted for fraud.

Collecting rent payment information directly from tenants is one of the most reliable methods. You can also try contacting the people who have the rent payments in the first place – either your existing landlord or one of the property owners themselves. The key is to make sure that they are still in occupied premises. Sometimes they may not want to leave or be forced out. Asking around can provide you with name, address and phone number of the person who may still be occupying the property.

Many people looking for rent to sell contracts may not have a property of their own and so you may be able to find them through ‘webinars’ or estate sales. At estate sales you are able to collect cash from owners who are prepared to let the property go. Alternatively you could contact a solicitor who specialises in this field. There is a good market of individuals who will buy homes for pennies on the pound (PPL) and then let them for a tidy profit when they eventually sell.

These are some great places to find the owners of repossessed homes who still have rent payments outstanding. If you are prepared to offer a fair price, it could be possible to strike a deal where you get a good bargain on the price. This is usually what happens at estate sales. It is not uncommon for the seller to be willing to accept less than they would normally be asked for in order to get rid of the loan completely. So having a list of these properties that are available to rent for prices below market value could help you make a profit on your investment.

A second source of information to use when looking for repossessed properties is the direct mail and internet listings. A good resource is House Flipper, which provides an excellent listing of both listed and unlisted properties available to rent direct. The site is comprehensive and covers both central and local government and social housing properties. This is a very good starting point for anyone looking for repossessed properties with rent payments owing. If marketing want to save money it is probably better to buy the house directly rather than rent from a property owner, but either way there are many ways to save money when purchasing repossessed real estate.

The final source of information should be a local real estate agent or brokerage firm. Many specialize in either listing renting or both and can be quite helpful in matching your needs to a suitable property. It is best to use a broker who has experience in both buying and selling properties and has been active in the rental and real estate markets for some time. They will know more about the market and the current trends than anyone else, so they will be in a position to guide you towards a property that suits your specific needs more effectively than any other list.

By using a combination of direct mail list and the internet you can identify excellent bargains on repossessed real estate. The advantage of direct mail lists is that it is cheaper than using a brokerage service and it generally carries more information about properties. Direct mailing lists are also easily retrievable and you can even send it to more people if you so wish. The disadvantage is that a large number of people will receive the same list and if yours does not get opened then you are losing potential sales. Using a service that offers several lists is more effective as you can control who sees your message and you can tailor your message to suit your particular market.