I put a post on my local REI forum looking for a bird dog to help me find wholesale properties that I can flip to rehabbers. I have gotten two responses so far here is an example of one of the emails:
“I saw your post for a bird dog. What area are you looking in? I started checking out about a dozen houses this week. Next week I’ll be going to Riverhead to get the info on them. How much info do you need on a property?”
Being this is my first time using a bird dog what exactly do I need to get from them? I know most of you will say its my job to know the information I need but I am looking for some suggestions… I know I need home size, comps to homes in the area, etc… but if someone can provide a checklist of items that I can give him in order to make sure the property is a deal for me that would be great!
Hi, I am completely new to all of this and am going to start out with bird dogging for now. So far what I have learned to look at when evaluating properties is:
Property address
Owners name & contact Info
Age & size of home
Reason owner wants to sell
What they want/need from this deal
Just pay it off
Get money to move also
L/O etc.
Amount of mortgage remaining
Any liens w/details
Area Comps
Neighborhood appeal - Good/Bad?
Close to schools, shopping, etc.
Home Details-
Exterior of home
Basic condition
Needs painting/masonary work?
Trim/woodwork?
Door/windows/screens
Gutters
Landscaping/debris removal
Anything else noticed
Interior of home
Basic condition
Painting, drywall, wallpaper
Carpet, tile
Trim, doors, windows
Kitchen/baths need updating/repair?
Leaks - look undercabinets, floor around bath/shower, toilet
Ceiling Condition- notice any stains, bowing etc. Repairs?
Plumbing Fixtures
Anything else notice
They could go into more detail for each room if you want them to, but I have heard the more detail you want the more you should expect to pay. I don’t know if everyone goes into detail like this or even if it’s not enough detail but maybe it will help.
Good Luck,
Angelina
EXACTLY what i am looking for! Anyone else got an opinion such as this post on what I should ask bird dog’s for?
Now I am only required to pay the dog 500 dollars IF I MAKE A PURCHASE on the home right?
That is something you work out between the two of you.
Tell the person what info you want and what you will pay and see if they will do it for that price. Here there is a “We buy homes” Company thats says they will pay you $500-$1000 for finding them properties that lead to a sell. I guess it depends on what you profit and how much you are willing to pay for the help.
I have also heard of people paying bird dogs a %, again how much you give is completely up to you.
OK awesome. It seems as if Bird Dogs are the way to go because they save the investor time and effort and allow them to spend more time doing what actually makes money INVESTING.
I found a realtor on Long Island that will send me EVERY home on Long Island that sold in the last 6 months and the price that it sold per zip code. I will use this as my comp list.
Just to confirm I only pay the bird dog if I buy the home correct?
Also whats a good # of bird dogs to have working for you? I basically want to have enough leads so when I decide I want to make a deal I don’t have to wait and basically have to just run through my system.
Whats a good way to find more bird dogs besides posting on my local REI forum and going to meetings?
Yeah, as far as I know you only pay if you buy the home. (I could be wrong though-so don’t qoute me)
To me it wouldn’t make sense to pay someone if you don’t make money but I don’t know how they will feel doing work getting all this inof and never getting paid if you decide not to buy any of the properties they find. Just make sure you are clear up front about what properties you want, area, condition price range etc. so they are not wasting time evaluating a property you won’t want.
As far as how many I would say it depends on how good they are, if they can only find 1-2 properties/month and you want more than that then find more to work for you. I guess if you want lots of sells get lots of dogs. 
Where you would find some I have no idea, maybe talk to more Realtors, Friends, Family?
Awesome!
I firmly support the use of Bird Dogs, I figure they don’t mind if I move on the properties or not cause if they are smart I am probably not the only person tehy are sending the properties too.
Anyone got anymore opinions on the questions listed earlier by AZNEWBIE cause as of now I am going basically just copy and paste that in an email to a potential Bird Dog.
JP,
Make sure your birddogs know they get paid AT CLOSING!
That is the way it is done - or you’ll be broke paying people who bring you nonsense!
Good luck!
Hi Everyone. I am an investor. I’ve only been in the game about 3 years. Just starting to look for good birddogs in the Maryland area. Question: Do birddogs look into any Liens or Second Mortgages on properties? Or is that my job 