Can the mailman or code enforcement officer help me find deals?

Question

Is it a good idea to ask the mailman and/or code enforcement officer to let me know of any houses they know of that are vacant, for sale by owner, or otherwise potentially a good deal that is practically unknown to other investors?

Pat L. · Answer

We get great info from a building inspector 'friend' & a local cop.
Both of whom just want the problem properties to go away.
We also have a great title guy who feeds us info on potential Lis Pendens issues.

Bill Gulley · Answer

Two different issues between mail carriers and city/county employees.

Postal employees can not give out the names who may reside at an address, they can say if an address exists or if a property has no mail service, meaning a vacant property. They also can not receive any significant gift or pay from any activity while on duty or that arises out of thier federal employment.

City and county employees are usually under the same restrictions, but your building regs/inspection department usually makes public a list of dangerious buildings, some may just be vacant for 6 months or so and identified simply to secure the property.

You may have better luck with meter readers for utility companies, they usually have similar company restrictions, but they may not be under the heaiver hand of government and may have more leeway, but I doubt they will be giving out names of owners or occupants. They do come under government regulatory issues as a utility and privacy.

Think of others who drive around town too, route drivers and delivery people can identify properties. They may have fewer company restrictions as well. Fed-X for example will have privacy issues, the delivery guy for a local drug store may not have many issues restricting them.