Skip Tracing

[Joshua Boyce]

Hey Everyone!

I'm trying to find a good technique for skip tracing. I'm looking for phone numbers specifically. I know the big name service providers get expensive, and we are on a budget.  If you have good ideas, I'd appreciate you sharing your experiences. Thank you very much!

[Andrew Michael]

I subscribe to a skip trace service called TLO.  It has been very beneficial for me.  I cannot recall if there was an initial sign up fee or not but I do not think there was.  You only pay per search and there is no monthly or yearly subscription fee.  

I have two main primary uses for the service.  

1) To collect phone numbers for vacant properties I find while driving for dollars or given to me via referrals.

2)  To run background checks and gather information when screening for tenants.

The first basic search outputs the persons potential phone numbers along with acquaintances, address, family contacts, friends contact, etc.  Tons of information.  This is 2 dollars per search.

The second search is a more in-depth back ground search that includes mortgage info, liens and judgement history, financial info, address history, etc This is 10 dollars per report. 

I believe if you are doing a large volume of searches there is a price break but I only pull 15 a month max so I have never looked into those rates.

Lastly, because of the sensitive information you will have access to they do require a application process and home office inspection.  You will need the following to qualify.

- A locked door where ever you have your office.  I have a home office so the point is that room needs to be able to be secured in some way.

- You need a paper shredder.

- You need a password protected computer.

- I think you also need to conduct business under an entity of some sort but I am not 100% positive.  

I got this service years ago so the application process and regulations may have changed since.  However I can tell you the fee's listed above are what I am currently paying.  

Hope this helps