What is the best way to do this? Can you go door to door in apartment complexs? Thanks

Wow first post and not a single reply. Great site.

I'll take a stab! My guess is that it depends on the apartment complex. You might have to ask at the office if you're unsure, but they'd probably tell you no. People in apartment complexes are more unlikely to open the door to a stranger, I would think, but just an opinion.
Might be more effective to do a monthly mail campaign with the benefits of home ownership.

You should make sure there isn't a posting for "No Solicters".

There are a lot of threads on this topic, you could search past posts. I think that every apartment bldg in just about every city may have different rules. You should probably talk to your broker, or even call the apartment property manager asking if they allow or forbid solicitors.

Prospecting is not limited to apartments, broaden your scope and go for it! Mailings, calls (check dnc list) and knock on house doors. Choose a farm area and walk it. Door hangers, letters to people in your SOI, floor time in your office, hold open houses for busy agents in your office... do whatever whenever you can.

Best of luck!

Apartment owners get so much mail from realtor. I was thinking to cold call but you cant get apartment phone #'s on a reverse address search.
Theres got to be a way to get infront of buyer, I just havent found it.

Send them a card with interesting market stats and tell them to go to your website to learn more. On the website, give them a reason to contact you, such a market report, custom search, etc.

When I lived in an apartment, most mail from realtors were those annoying "you can own a home for what you're paying rent" postcards that provided no valuable info whatsoever.

You want to target apartment dwellers who want to buy but aren't sure if it's a good time, or if they can find something they like.

Here's a cute and catchy phrase for a side of the post card...
"Renting Is Hazardous To Your WEALTH!"

At least 80% of buyers start on the Internet so I think you'd have more success if you had a web presence. Listings bring buyers as well. Potential sources of listings are abundant. Much easier to find than buyers.

Be careful soliciting in developments and apartment complexes - do it only during polite hours. A good door2door salesman will be sure it is ok to be there, and even notify the police of his presence, areas he will be visiting etc. So if/when someone calls (it happens a lot) the police are already aware you are there.

Personally I would HATE to be approached that way. I have owned a separate business of my own for 6 years now and I have found that creative marketing is very effective. For example, have a good website to start. Have some quality magnetic business cards made for yourself - they are worth the investment - you can put them on (not in) mailboxes on metal doors to apartment buildings, on your car for people to take, on trashcans in high traffic areas. Lightposts, shopping cart corrals (ask first)park benches. I have tons of ideas that have worked wonders. One other thought - if you have a listing you are trying to move, try having an open house advertise it in advance, and send flyers out to everyone in the neighborhood to the effect that perhaps they know someone who is in the market and may enjoy that neighborhood and would like to view the property. I read this on another REsite recently and it is a very good idea.

Great advise. The only reason I am really targeting buyers is we have a huge buyers market here in Minnesota. There are so many houses for sale it not even funny. We have 6.35 houses for every 1 buyer. Thanks for the good tips.

Justin, it is like that just about everywhere. A buyers market. Sales dropped another 4+% in July overall, and it is expected to get worse before it gets better. Hang in there, it will get better. Try to find some niche, a specialty. For example I am the go to girl for equine property in my offices, I have a part time business of my own to see me through, and I promote honesty and ethics, take several listings, and work with only 1 or 2 buyers at a time. My buyers love that. I have no floor time - I work strictly from home, only using my office for meetings. I have also made friends with several of the local Listers (Tax Assessors) and they will refer to me. I don't spend a dime on advertising - can't afford it. Just those business cards.
Good Luck!

Have you checked with various list brokers for a scrubbed list of apartment dwellers in your area?

I have but those list are really expensive.

The current slow market will open doors to new business models. Get a broker that allows rebates and align yourself with an auction company. Investors are taking houses that agents can't sell and auctioning them for profit.