. #1: most of them lie and tell us that they are actually the principal and not acting as a broker, #2: most recycle product "lists" that have we've seen several times and are quite dated (I recently was offered a package with several notes...3 of which I owned), #3: most try to get too greedy and try to structure the deal so that it doesn't work for us, and #4: most haven't got a clue what they are doing.

One more problem area that normally does not involve my time.I can't say enough about engineering systems into your business, from data, to inbound phone calls, to Deal-flow, research, due diligence, doc production, everything.

It struck me at this point that I was actually acquiring some of these properties for pennies on the dollar.

Thought the Quicken product was garbage and haven't looked back since switching to Buildium.

My second question: Does this arrangement put me at risk of appearing "predatory"?

We tried to call it as early as possible in the day.Grab me at the next event and I'll buy you a drink

Customary carries more weight in enforcing any agreement than imagination.But, that's what gets attention and ultimately turned into some product, showing something new, different, profitable, unusual or that little know secret method presented with a skewed interpretation of reality or accepted thinking. :)

Now that I know its possible, I COULD buy the list like this and I don't mind putting in the time but if I'm buying a product, I should be able to get it how I want from the start - the list broker hasn't responded to my emails so I'll be on the phone with them today to settle it for sure.

Reputation matters to these agents and if you get a rep as a guy who will take product and perform on contracts that can make you money down the road when he slides you deals first.

Your assessment of the BS radar going off when you hear someone talk about bulk trades is true, however, that is due to the amount of brokers out there trying to make a quick buck by either remarketing product "posing" as the direct seller or getting a buyer to sign a fee agreement up front and then trying to go up the daisy chain to locate the direct seller.