What Information Can Skip Tracing Give You?

Disclaimer: PropStream does not offer legal advice regarding skip tracing best practices; it only provides contact information. Before attempting to contact homeowners, we recommend consulting a legal professional and being up-to-date with the laws surrounding outreach.

In real estate, finding motivated leads is only half the battle. Once you have their address in hand, the next step is figuring out how to get in touch. That’s where skip tracing comes in. 

But what is skip tracing in real estate exactly, and what kind of information can it uncover? Let’s explore how skip tracing works, what it reveals, and how real estate professionals use it to convert leads.

What Is Skip Tracing in Real Estate?

Skip tracing is the process of locating individuals who are difficult to find, typically because they’ve moved, changed phone numbers, or otherwise become unreachable.

In real estate, skip tracing is often used to find contact information for homeowners with indicators that they may need a particular real estate service. Here are some examples of high-quality leads for various real estate niches:

Real estate agents/brokers: Motivated sellers who can convert into listing leads (pre-foreclosures, divorcees, failed listings, etc.)

Investors: Motivated sellers who may need to sell urgently and may be willing to sell at a discount (pre-foreclosures, vacant properties, bankrupt homeowners, homeowners with liens or tax delinquency, etc.)

Property managers: Investors with several properties that they may need help managing

Contractors: Property owners with features the contractor specializes in (e.g., pool services, roof repair, window replacement, landscaping services, etc.)

Loan originators: Homeowners with high interest rates or multiple mortgages that they could potentially refinance or consolidate

As a real estate pro in any of the above niches, the ability to locate these homeowners and reach out opens the door to make offers, negotiate deals, or simply gather more information about a lead’s potential.

Psst! If you fall into any of the above categories, PropStream can help you find leads fast. Learn more here.

What Information Can Skip Tracing Reveal?

Skip tracing services, particularly with PropStream, can provide valuable information about a property owner, including:

• Up to four results for contact information, like:
  • Email addresses
  • Phone numbers

• A homeowner’s presence on the DNC (Do Not Call) List
• Whether a homeowner is a known litigator or not

With this information, real estate professionals can make direct contact, verify ownership, or assess the risk of reaching out to a lead (or how willing they may be to talk with you). For instance, finding a phone number and email address for an absentee owner allows an investor to present a cash offer before the property ever hits the market.

However, if you discover that the homeowner you want to reach is on the DNC registry, you can discard them to avoid potential legal fees or wasting your time with a prospect who does not want to be contacted. From there, you can save time moving on to a different lead who is not on the DNC registry and may be more receptive to your pitch.

Is Skip Tracing Legal?

A common concern: Is skip tracing legal?

The answer is yes, as long as it's used ethically and within the limits of the law. Real estate professionals must adhere to federal and state privacy laws, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which restricts how personal data can be used. Most reputable skip tracing services provide data that is legally sourced from public records, consumer databases, and proprietary aggregators.

Additionally, CAN-SPAM regulations and the DNC registry set forth expectations for cold outreach via phone and email.

Skip Tracing Tools and Services

While there are many skip tracing services available, not all are reliable.

For example, you may be left with empty leads only to end up paying for the skip trace. Or, you may only be given one outdated method of contact.

However, with skip tracing tools like PropStream, you can ensure you’re getting the most detailed, updated, and accurate information. Here are a few additional reasons to skip trace with PropStream:

• Free skip tracing: With PropStream, certain subscription tiers and add-ons offer complimentary skip tracing, allowing you to reach out to thousands of leads for the base cost of your subscription. This can save you thousands of dollars in marketing spend.
• No hit? No charge: If you do find yourself paying per skip trace due to your subscription, PropStream will never charge you if a skip trace comes up empty.
• Results conveniently organized: Up to four results are delivered per category (e.g., four email addresses and four phone numbers), and PropStream organizes your results in order from highest to lowest relevancy.
• Free DNC registry scrubbing: Calling homeowners on the DNC registry could result in hefty legal fines and wasted time. PropStream notifies you of homeowners on the registry—free of charge!

Using Skip Tracing in Real Estate Lead Generation

Skip tracing real estate prospects is a powerful way to uncover hidden opportunities.

By obtaining up-to-date contact information, you can connect with motivated sellers before your competitors do. Whether you’re a wholesaler, flipper, listing agent, or somewhere in between, this proactive approach can significantly increase your chances of closing deals.