In order to become a successful real estate investor there are certain skills that must be mastered. One of these skills is marketing. The follow list is a great way to insure your marketing program is successful and make sure that your investment home does not sit empty and drain your bank account while you wait for a buyer.

Make an effort to do several of these action items each day until your investment home sales, rents, leases, or you are forced to move in.

1. Put signs in yard (be sure phone numbers are readable)
" For Sale
" Flexible Seller
" Motivated Seller
" "0" down
2. See that landscaping looks great
3. Check out & fix mail box if needed
4. Clean driveway if needed
5. Plant colorful flowers & add mulch
6. Paint and repair front door as needed
7. Replace front light fixtures as needed
8. Replace house numbers as needed
9. First look inside must be a positive
10. Make house smell like apple cinnamon
11. Soft music playing is good idea
12. Keep the inside of the house looking bright
13. Make sure house is very clean (especially kitchen and bathrooms)
14. Put lock box on door for showing
15. Take good pictures inside and out
16. Put tube on main sign with flyers
17. Check tube every few days (keep filled with fresh new colored flyers)
18. If local laws permit--place directional signs from main streets
19. Replace directional signs (as needed every few days)
20. List for sale & lease on MLS with pictures
21. Run "For Sale" ads in newspaper
" flexible Seller
" be sure your ad gets listed on the internet
22. Run "For Lease" ad in newspaper (be sure ad gets listed on net)
23. Get an 800# with number capture feature
24. Run long term rent to own ad in tabloids (like The Greensheet and Penny Saver)
25. Place ad with FSOB.com
26. As calls come in keep good notes (for this and future sales)
27. Trade leads with others home sellers
28. Post ads on free real estate listing sites
29. Post house on real estate association sites
30. Visit neighbors and talk it up (offer a finder's fee)
31. Blanket the neighborhood with flyers (include the finder's fee)
32. Have open house every other week (each better than the last)
33. Promote open houses with:
" ads
" directional signs
" and big balloons
34. Have a lunch at home for realtors the week of the open house
35. Make up a realtor flyer=free lunch $ door prizes
36. Make friends at 5 realtors at 5 realty companies
" tell about house
" ask for new leads
" ask to pass out flyers to other agents in their offices
37. Gather agents e-mail addresses from flyers, cards, ads, and booklets
38. Send e-mails to realtors & brokers
"If you show it-it will sell"
39. Follow up e-mails to agents with a call
40. Offer brokers a bonus if offer arrives by… (a specific date)
41. Set up your own web site
42. Do a color flyer with
" pictures
" terms
" discount coupon
" web address & contact info
43. Print up a finder's fee dollar (to pass out in the area and put in all your mailings)
44. Set up a 24 hour recorded message (to use with your 800#)
45. List the house on an eBay auction
46. Use a mailing service to mail out
" letters
" flyers
" finders fee dollars
47. Advertise in Los Angeles Times

Just doing a few of these items each day will pay big benefits for your future sales!