Real Estate Bird Dogging Summary

Summary

The session introduced the concept of "bird dogging" in real estate investment, focusing on its simplicity, the role it plays between buyers and wholesalers, and its suitability for beginners.
Key distinctions between bird dogs, wholesalers, and buyers were covered, and practical steps for getting started, selecting buyers, and understanding the flow of deals and compensation were discussed.
An interview with investor Daniel highlighted best practices for bird dogging and building relationships with buyers, emphasizing the importance of consistency and specificity.
Open Q&A addressed common misconceptions, pitfalls, and tips for virtual participation, sourcing buyers, and maintaining value as a bird dog.

Tomorrow – Pace: Introduce another buyer and a supplier during the next session (5 PM PST).
Tomorrow – Pace: Provide a JV agreement template for bird dogging to attendees.
Thursday – Pace: Share a curated buyer list with the group.
Tomorrow – All Attendees: Comment on today’s provided YouTube video with the key lesson learned for a chance at a prize.
Ongoing – Attendees: Begin by finding one buyer, stay focused on that buyer until the first deal is completed, and repeatedly follow up.
Ongoing – Attendees: For those in the Sub2 community, access and review the owners club buy boxes for potential buyers interested in bird dogging.

Bird dogging is a simple entry-level real estate investment strategy focused on matching property opportunities with buyers seeking specific deal criteria (the 'buy box').
Bird dogs act as connectors, identifying and forwarding potential deals (often under contract by wholesalers) to vetted buyers in exchange for a finder's fee when deals close.
This role is distinct from wholesaling, which requires negotiation, marketing spend, sales skills, and deeper involvement in deal structure.

Every real estate transaction starts with a seller, often motivated by distress (e.g., foreclosure, divorce).
Wholesalers acquire properties under contract, typically below market value, and assign those contracts to buyers for a fee.
Buyers (flippers, landlords, or other investors) execute strategies like flipping or holding properties.
Bird dogs facilitate by supplying buyers with relevant leads or contracts from wholesalers, especially in markets or asset types the buyer prefers.
Key distinction: Bird dogs work for/with a single buyer at a time to minimize confusion and maximize learning.

Start by selecting one active buyer with a clearly defined buy box.
Remain focused on serving that buyer until a deal closes; only then consider engaging additional buyers.
If a buyer stops communicating, proactively move on to another, but avoid complaints—persistence and professionalism are key.
Agreement/JV paperwork is optional and may slow down the process; trust and relationship-building are emphasized in the community.

Use tools like Deal Sauce, public records, Facebook groups, or community resources to identify active buyers, especially those doing 4-12 deals per year.
Sub2 community members have access to curated and active buyer lists with detailed buy boxes.
When outside the community, verify buyers through research and by pulling public records on recent transactions.
Focus on buyers with frequent deal flow in asset classes with the most transaction volume (e.g., single-family, land) for proof of concept and simplicity.

Main activity: Copy/paste property details from wholesalers/suppliers to buyers; do not overcomplicate or attempt to negotiate.
Include all relevant deal information and respond promptly when buyers request more data (e.g., mortgage statements, CC&Rs).
Avoid simply forwarding links to platforms like InvestorLift—download and repackage the information in your own messages to ensure you remain part of the deal.
Maintain specificity and consistency in communication; successful bird dogs are those who repeatedly follow up and know their buyer’s needs in detail.

Bird dogging can be performed virtually from any country as long as time zones are managed and deals target U.S. markets.
The risk exists that, after a deal closes, buyers may bypass bird dogs for future deals with the same supplier; mitigate by continuing to add value and sourcing new suppliers.
Use official channels/sub2 support to verify community member status before engaging in business, especially through Facebook or free public groups.
Android/iPhone texting: Most seasoned investors prefer iPhone (blue bubbles) for ease of verification and communication.

Dispo: Blasting deals to large buyer lists indiscriminately, hoping for a match (more advanced, less relationship-driven).
Bird Dogging: Targeted deal-finding and relationship-building for a single, engaged buyer who provides ongoing feedback and training.

Highlighted buy box: Single-family homes for co-living in Ohio (Akron, Canton, Cleveland) with an affordability focus.
Daniel and his partner grew their portfolio rapidly using bird dogs for lead generation and prefer working with individuals who are consistent and specific in their outreach.
Noted that promptly bringing a well-aligned address or opportunity (even just one) can result in compensation.

Bird dogs should focus on a single buyer until their first deal closes — To avoid confusion, overwhelm, and ensure actionable, targeted learning.
Do not use InvestorLift or public deal links for bird dogging — Only send copied/pasted details to preserve your role and compensation.

Will the JV agreement be distributed to all attendees tomorrow as planned?
Clarification for attendees on structuring payment/fee agreements when not using formal JV paperwork.
Details on tomorrow’s supplier guest and additional steps for non-Sub2 members to connect with buyers or suppliers safely.