What is Skip Tracing in Real Estate?

“Skip tracing” is a term that refers to the search for a person of interest using databases, records and interviews. Many industries make use of skip tracing techniques, from debt collectors and private investigators to law enforcement officers and attorneys. Here’s what you need to know about skip tracing in real estate:

What is Skip Tracing in Real Estate?

Skip tracing in real estate is the process by which agents, investors and other interested parties locate information about property owners. It might seem like it would be easy to find the contact details for the owner of a property. Just “google” an address, right? Well, not always. Sometimes a property owner will not live onsite. Or maybe he or she just doesn’t want to be easily found. In other instances, a property is owned by a company or an LLC, and a singular contact person isn’t readily apparent. Whatever the reason, many times the auxiliary contact details (email address and/or phone number vs. physical address) of a property owner are hard to discern, and real estate professionals must use their detective skills to track down the information they need. Skip tracing in real estate is the process of using public and private sources to make contact with a property owner so that an agent can potentially make an offer to buy (or sell) the property in question. 

How Skip Tracing in Real Estate Works

If the contact details of a property owner are ambiguous or if an individual has too many properties to search and/or doesn’t want to spend the time or effort searching on his or her own, skip tracing in real estate is needed.

There are three basic ways to skip trace in real estate:

1. DIY

In some scenarios, a quick Internet search can provide the data you need to identify good contact details for a property owner. If so, you’re lucky. Most often, more digging (through county tax records and other online sources) will be required, and it will take a substantial amount of time and effort. If you choose this route, make sure to set aside ample time for your research.

2. Buy Access to Skip Tracing Tools

When free sources of information do not provide the necessary information to make contact with a property owner, investors, agents and other individuals can buy access to specialized skip tracing tools. For a fee, you have the ability to search online databases for the information you need. Similar to using free sources of information, paid services require time. They also frequently necessitate an understanding of how to set filters and run reports (across multiple platforms for best results). 

3. Partner with a Lead Generation Service

The best way to skip trace in real estate is to collaborate with a trusted partner. Here at Haines, for example, our proprietary lead generation database includes 300 searchable data points, allowing real estate professionals access to truly customized prospecting lists. And the best part is we do all the hard stuff for you without charging additional fees for skip tracing! You skip (play on words intended!) the hassle and still end up with the information and leads you need to get your work done.

The Haines Advantage

To get the most out of your skip tracing in real estate efforts, think about partnering with our team at Haines. We can help you find hundreds of leads, including the most elusive property owners, based on any number or kind of criteria. Please contact us to learn more about using our software for skip tracing in real estate.