Bird Dogging - Trading 1k addresses for discount on wholesale fee

[Craig Kleffman]

Hi, 

Nothing like persistence, right?  

My wife and I spend a good chunk of every Saturday driving the neighborhoods.  We look for properties that appear distressed from the outside.  We've amassed a list of 691 homes.  

I found a local wholesaler (via bandit signs).  I cut a deal with him.  I agreed to provide up to 1,000 distressed addresses in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles.  In exchange, he agreed to show me how this worked, and provide me with a right of first refusal.  We also agreed upon a wholesale fee.  And, the fee is reduced by 10% for every 100 addresses; obviously, if we provide 1,000 addresses, the wholesale fee would be free.  

In Los Angeles, there is no "online" lookup for the local addresses (at least not that I'm aware of, and at least not with a huge fee to get their entire list).  So, if you want to get the list, you must go to the county office and look it up.  My partner has looked up about 500 addresses so far - I'm very happy with that.  

Unfortunately, there's one minor glitch.  Our deal (and yes it's in writing, I am a lawyer after all :-)), provides my partner is to design, implement and pay for the mailings to the group that I provide.  But, so far, my partner has only provided the address, but he hasn't spent the money (or time or effort to mail the list).  Our deal is that he is to mail no less than 30 days after a group of 100 is delivered (and then 30 days after each successive group).  I've let that go though - I'm very happy that I'm getting the addresses.  But, soon, I'll need to send a letter saying you must do the mailing or our deal is off (and the contract provides remedies for breach - so that's already set up in advance).  

So, I'm very hopeful my wholesale and bird dog (birddog) deal with my partner works out.  If it doesn't, maybe there's someone on the board here who can offer something of value, such that we may be able to cut a similar deal.  

Love to hear from folks!  

--Craig.