How to Use Skip Tracing Tools Step by Step

Step 1: Prepare Your Lead List

Before using a skip tracing tool, you need organized data. Your lead list should include:

✅ Full Name (or at least last name)

✅ Property Address (or business address)

✅ Mailing Address (if available)

✅ LinkedIn or Social Media Profile (for additional matching)

Example:

Name	Property Address	Mailing Address	Notes
John Smith	123 Main St, Dallas, TX	456 Oak Rd, Austin, TX	Absentee Owner
Lisa Brown	789 Pine Ave, Miami, FL	789 Pine Ave, Miami, FL	Recently Foreclosed

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Step 2: Choose a Skip Tracing Tool

Different tools serve different purposes. Here’s a breakdown:

Tool	Best For	Strengths	Pricing
BatchSkipTracing	Finding absentee owners & investors	High match rate for real estate	$$ (Pay per record)
PropStream	Full property & owner data	Comprehensive real estate database	$$ (Subscription)
TLOxp (TransUnion)	Professional-grade searches	Deep data access (SSN, credit data)	$$$ (High cost)
Skip Genie	Wholesalers & off-market deals	Focuses on hard-to-find sellers	$$ (Pay per record)
REISkip	Finding motivated sellers	AI-powered lead scoring	$$ (Subscription)

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Step 3: Input Lead Information into a Skip Tracing Tool

Each skip tracing service works slightly differently, but the general process is:

1️⃣ Upload a CSV file with lead names & addresses (if bulk searching).

2️⃣ Manually enter a single lead (if searching one-by-one).

3️⃣ Click “Search” or “Skip Trace” and wait for results.

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Step 4: Analyze the Skip Tracing Results

Once the tool processes the request, it will return contact information, including:

✅ Phone Numbers (mobile, landline, VOIP)

✅ Email Addresses

✅ Current & Past Addresses

✅ Social Media Profiles

Example of Skip Tracing Results:

Name	Phone Numbers	Emails	Address Found
John Smith	[phone], [phone]	[e-mail]	456 Oak Rd, Austin, TX
Lisa Brown	[phone]	[e-mail]	789 Pine Ave, Miami, FL

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Step 5: Verify and Clean the Data

Before reaching out, you need to verify that the contact information is accurate.

Ways to verify data:

✅ Call or text a phone number to confirm it’s active.

✅ Check LinkedIn or social media to match names & locations.

✅ Use an email verification tool (e.g., Hunter.io, NeverBounce).

Example:

• You call John Smith’s number [phone] and confirm he owns the property.

• You find his LinkedIn and see he’s actively investing in Dallas real estate.

• You remove any disconnected phone numbers from your list.

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Step 6: Reach Out to Leads

Now that you have accurate contact details, it’s time to start outreach via:

📞 Cold Calling – Best for real estate investors & motivated sellers.

📩 Emailing – Ideal for professional outreach to brokers, realtors, or investors.

💬 SMS Texting – Works well for direct response.

🤝 Social Media DMs – Useful for networking with investors & realtors.

Example Cold Call Script for Absentee Owners:

“Hi [John], my name is [Your Name]. I came across your property at 123 Main St, and I noticed you don’t live there. I work with investors looking for off-market properties in the area. Would you be interested in discussing a potential sale?”

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🔹 Best Skip Tracing Tools – Detailed Breakdown

1. BatchSkipTracing – Best for Finding Absentee Owners & Investors

🔹 Why Use It?

✅ High accuracy for real estate investor leads.

✅ Finds mobile, landline, and VOIP numbers.

✅ Pay per search ($0.15–$0.25 per record).

🔹 How to Use:

1. Upload a CSV file with names and addresses.

2. Click "Skip Trace" and wait for results.

3. Download the contact details.

🔹 Example:

You upload 200 absentee owner leads, and BatchSkipTracing finds 160 accurate phone numbers.

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2. PropStream – Best for Real Estate Data & Contact Info

🔹 Why Use It?

✅ Provides property details + owner contact info.

✅ Offers foreclosures, tax liens, and MLS data.

✅ Monthly subscription ($99/month for 10,000 leads).

🔹 Example:

• You find Lisa Brown’s property in Miami through PropStream.

• It reveals her mortgage balance and foreclosure risk, making her a motivated seller.

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3. TLOxp (TransUnion) – Best for Deep Background Searches

🔹 Why Use It?

✅ Used by law enforcement & debt collectors.

✅ Provides SSN, relatives, business records.

✅ Requires business verification & a subscription.

🔹 Example:

You need to find a hard-to-reach owner who abandoned their property.

TLOxp pulls up their relatives’ phone numbers, helping you reach them indirectly.

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4. Skip Genie – Best for Wholesalers & Off-Market Deals

🔹 Why Use It?

✅ Focuses on finding motivated sellers.

✅ Offers deceased owner searches.

✅ Pay per search ($0.10–$0.20 per record).

🔹 Example:

You’re looking for vacant properties.

Skip Genie identifies heirs who might want to sell inherited homes.

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5. REISkip – Best for Finding Motivated Sellers

🔹 Why Use It?

✅ AI-powered lead filtering.

✅ Finds pre-foreclosure and probate leads.

✅ Subscription ($49/month for 2,500 searches).

🔹 Example:

You’re targeting foreclosure properties in Houston.

REISkip identifies homeowners 60+ days late on mortgage payments.

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🔹 Final Thoughts – Maximizing Skip Tracing Success

🔹 Organize Your Data – Keep a clean spreadsheet of leads.

🔹 Verify Contact Info – Avoid wasting time on outdated numbers.

🔹 Use Multiple Tools – No single tool is perfect for all searches.

🔹 Start Outreach Quickly – The sooner you contact leads, the higher your chances of closing deals.