Birddogging for Beginners: Understanding the Process and Benefits

Birddogging for beginners can seem intimidating, but it's actually a straightforward process. Birddogging is a form of grassroots activism where individuals follow and observe government officials, often to hold them accountable.

The goal of birddogging is to gather information and expose potential wrongdoing. This can be done by attending public meetings, reviewing public records, and engaging with the official in question.

Birddogging can be done by anyone, regardless of experience or background. It's a way to participate in the democratic process and make a tangible impact.

Effective birddogging requires a combination of research, observation, and documentation skills.

A wholesaler enters into a contract with the property seller that gives them exclusive rights to buy the property for an agreed amount.

This contract details how much time the wholesaler has to find a buyer and the minimum price the property must be sold for. They must also put down a deposit in order to be assigned the contract.

Once you’ve paid the deposit and entered the agreement, you essentially become the homeowner with the right to transfer the contract. The final buyer completes the transaction directly with the seller.

Wholesaling costs more money compared to bird dogging, meaning people who don’t have financial resources can get into real estate.

Birddogging is a simple and low-cost way to get involved in politics, requiring only a smartphone and a willingness to learn.

You can start by downloading a birddogging app, such as BallotReady or VoteSmart, which provide information on local candidates and issues.

Attend a local town hall meeting or city council meeting to see birddogging in action.

Before the event, take some time to align your team on the top question you want to ask. Choose your question wisely, as you may only get one or two chances to ask it.

It's also a good idea to plan your visuals in advance. This could be anything from printing placards and banners to bringing props that relate to your issue. For example, if you're asking about the concentration camps on the border, you might bring toothbrushes.

To ensure everyone is on the same page, set up a communication system for your team. A group text with everyone's numbers in one message group works well.

Review all the details with your team, even if you've done this before. Take ten minutes to go over roles, meeting times, transportation, mutual support, tech, and plans for contingencies. Confirm everything in a phone call, email chain, or text message that works for your team.

Building a strong network is key to getting started. Get to know everyone locally, including real estate agents or REALTORS, investors, and other professionals.

Your network can be a valuable resource for advice, referrals, and opportunities. Build it up by attending local events and joining community groups.

Knowing the right people can help you stay informed about market trends and new developments. This can give you a competitive edge in your endeavors.

By expanding your network, you can increase your chances of success. Don't be afraid to reach out and introduce yourself to people in your industry.

You can source potential leads in many different ways, including the multiple listing service (MLS), the internet, signs around town, foreclosure auctions and trustee sales, real estate events and asking around in the community.

Think like motivated sellers, if you were motivated to sell, who would you approach? Where would you go in your community?

Driving for dollars is an old-school deal-hunting technique where you drive around different neighborhoods looking for distressed properties.

Common signs of a property in despair include overgrown lawns, peeling paint, and anything that may signal the property owner may be behind maintenance.

You can also buy prospect lists from services like ListSource and DataTree Lists to spot out-of-town property owners.

With such a contact list, you can call, mail, or email your prospects to let them know you're willing to help them find a buyer quickly.

Mashvisor's real estate investment software can produce quality property leads quickly, saving you time and effort.

Their real estate heatmap provides data such as listing price, rental income, cash on cash return, and Airbnb occupancy rate to help you determine the best locations for investing.

You can use filters like location, budget, type of real estate, and rental strategy to pinpoint the perfect find with Mashvisor's Property Finder.

Bird dogs use grassroots lead generation techniques such as auto dialers and mailing circulars to find motivated sellers. These circulars often promise cash today for your home, enticing people who need to sell quickly.

Bird dogs also tap into public databases like the multiple listing service (MLS) to cross-reference information and identify potential deals. They might look for motivated sellers, such as those who've been laid off from a nearby company.

By casting a wide net, bird dogs can generate enough leads to pay for their efforts and costs involved. This often includes identifying underwater mortgages or dropping home values in recent tax assessments.

The bird dog exercise is a game-changer for people with low back concerns, including hypermobility, as it can help develop good balance and posture.

It works the erector spinae, rectus abdominis, and glutes, allowing for correct movement, control, and stability of the whole body.

By engaging your abdominals and stabilizing your low back, you'll find greater ease and mobility in many of your daily and athletic movements.

This exercise teaches you to move your body as a whole, rather than isolating specific muscles or movements, which is key to getting the full benefits of the bird dog pose.

The bird dog exercise is a great way to improve your core strength and balance. It's also a versatile exercise that can be modified to suit different fitness levels.

To mix up your routine, you can try different variations of the bird dog exercise. For example, you can bring your elbow to your knee after each extension, or twist your upper body each time you extend your arm and leg.

Adding weights to the exercise can increase the resistance and challenge your muscles. According to the weighted bird dog variation, you can use ankle or free weights for increased resistance, or use a resistance band around your foot or hand.

Here are some common techniques used in the bird dog exercise:

These techniques can help you get the most out of the bird dog exercise and improve your overall fitness. Remember to always listen to your body and adjust the exercise as needed.

Real estate bird dogs can be paid in various ways, including an hourly rate, a referral fee, or a hybrid of both. The referral fee can be a flat fee, a percentage of the selling price, or a combination of both.

A typical bird dog referral fee can range from $500 to $1,000, depending on market conditions, the working relationship between the investor and the bird dog, and the quality of the referral.

Bird dogs paid on a percentage basis may receive 2-8% of the deal's profits. The more time and effort you put into bird dogging, the more you'll get paid.

Here's a rough breakdown of the factors that can affect a bird dog's pay:

The more skilled and diligent the bird dog, the more they can earn. A bird dog who locates great off-market deals, calculates accurate estimates, and determines the after-repair value and maximum allowable offer is likely to receive more money.

Specializing in a specific niche can make it easier to build networks with investors looking for the specific properties you deal with.

Different types of real estate investments have varying levels of profitability, so consider specializing in a specific area.

Specializing can allow you to set a higher commission rate, making it a worthwhile consideration.

By focusing on a specific niche, you become the go-to person when an investor seeks a particular type of deal.

To succeed as a bird dog, you'll want to determine your profitability upfront. This means talking to real estate investors in your area to find out how much they'd be willing to pay you per lead.

You'll want to charge a finder's fee or referral fee that nets a profit and takes your expenses into account. This may involve researching what other bird dogs in your area charge and how profitable they are.

Estimating your profitability is also crucial. This involves finding out how much money you can make from every lead and whether it's enough to cover your expenses and leave you with a good profit.

To determine if bird dogging is worth your time, you'll want to estimate how much money you can make from every lead.

Talking to real estate investors in your market is a great place to start. Ask them how much they'd be willing to pay you per lead.

You may want to charge a finder's fee or referral fee that nets a profit and takes your expenses into account. This will help you cover your costs and leave you with a good profit.

It's a good idea to find out if investors prefer to pay on commission, flat fee, or keep you on retainer. This will help you understand their expectations and negotiate a fair deal.

Talking to other bird dogs in your market can also give you an idea of how much they charge for their services. However, keep in mind that their rates may be based on their years of experience.

Carry out due diligence on the property itself to ensure there are no hidden issues that may compromise the deal. This will help you avoid costly surprises down the line.

You have little to lose if the deal falls through or the seller finds another buyer, since you're not putting any money down.

This is a huge advantage of bird dogging, as it allows you to take on properties without the risk of financial loss if something goes wrong.

Since you're not tying up any capital, you can explore multiple deals without the pressure of losing money if one falls through.

This flexibility is a key benefit of bird dogging, and it's one of the reasons why it's such a popular option for real estate investors.

Birddogging is a unique way to gather information, but it's not the only option.

Birddogging can be more effective than traditional research methods, such as conducting interviews or analyzing documents, because it allows for real-time observation and interaction with individuals involved in a situation.

One of the most significant advantages of birddogging is its ability to uncover hidden information that might not be readily available through other means.

In some cases, birddogging can be more cost-effective than hiring private investigators or conducting lengthy interviews.

However, birddogging may not be suitable for every situation, especially those requiring sensitive or confidential information.

It's worth noting that birddogging can be a time-consuming process, requiring a significant amount of patience and persistence.

Ultimately, birddogging should be considered as one of several tools in a journalist's or investigator's toolkit, rather than a replacement for other methods.