How to vet wholesalers?

Question

How do you find which wholesalers in your area have been vetted and have a good track record, to buy from for fix and flips? It seems ones that have been doing it longer would be better, but in general how do you figure out who to go with?

Nicholas Mayernick · Answer

That's a great question! From what I’ve seen, the most reliable wholesalers tend to come through referrals from active local investors. Meetups and investor groups have been the best way to separate the real players from the noise.

A few things I’ve found helpful when evaluating wholesalers:

• Attend REIA meetups or local investor events — it’s one of the best ways to meet wholesalers face-to-face and hear who others are actually doing deals with.
• Look for consistency — regular deal flow with solid photos, comps, and realistic numbers is usually a good sign.
• Check the numbers — if ARVs are always aggressive or repair costs seem too light, I take that as a red flag.
• Repeat buyers — if other investors keep buying from the same wholesaler, it usually means they’re delivering value.
• Just talk to them — hopping on a quick phone call goes a long way. Ask some real questions and see how they respond. You can usually get a feel pretty quickly for whether they know their stuff or are just passing off a daisy-chained deal.

Attend REIA meetups or local investor events — it’s one of the best ways to meet wholesalers face-to-face and hear who others are actually doing deals with.

Look for consistency — regular deal flow with solid photos, comps, and realistic numbers is usually a good sign.

Check the numbers — if ARVs are always aggressive or repair costs seem too light, I take that as a red flag.

Repeat buyers — if other investors keep buying from the same wholesaler, it usually means they’re delivering value.

Just talk to them — hopping on a quick phone call goes a long way. Ask some real questions and see how they respond. You can usually get a feel pretty quickly for whether they know their stuff or are just passing off a daisy-chained deal.

The wholesalers I’ve had the best experience with usually:

Communicate clearly and follow through

Understand the local market

Don’t sugarcoat numbers

Respect your time during walk-throughs

Are transparent about fees, contracts, and timelines

There are definitely good wholesalers out there but there are also shady ones as well.

Ben Scott · Answer

Always take the square footage and the wholesaler's opinion of ARV with a grain of salt. Make sure to get your own numbers.

Dylan Robinson · Answer

That's an excellent question, and it's a critical skill to develop if you plan on doing a lot of fix-and-flips. Sifting through the "clueless" wholesalers to find the pros is an investment of time that pays off in spades.

Here's how you can find and vet reliable wholesalers with a good track record:

1. Network, Network, Network

This is the most effective method, as it allows you to get direct referrals and insights.

• Local Real Estate Investor Associations (REIAs): This is the single best place to start. Attend meetings, introduce yourself, and specifically tell people you're looking for vetted wholesalers. Ask other flippers who they work with. The best wholesalers are often at these meetings networking with buyers.
• Talk to Title Companies and Closing Attorneys: Title companies and attorneys see a huge volume of transactions. They know exactly who the most active and successful wholesalers are. Ask them, "Who are the wholesalers you work with that always bring clean, legitimate deals to the table?"
• Connect with Other Investors: Use the BiggerPockets forums and groups, as well as local social media groups (like on Facebook), to connect with other investors in your area. Ask them for recommendations. The experienced investors who regularly close deals are a goldmine of information.

2. Vet Them Thoroughly

Once you get a name, don't just add them to your list. Do your homework.

• Ask for Proof of Past Deals: Don't just ask for a deal, ask for a deal they have already closed. A reputable wholesaler will be happy to show you their past deals, including the address, their acquisition price, the rehab amount, and the final sale price. This proves their numbers are based on reality, not on a wish and a prayer.
• Check Their References: Ask for a couple of references from other flippers or investors they have worked with. Call those people and ask them about their experience. Did the deal go smoothly? Were the numbers accurate? Did the wholesaler communicate well?
• Evaluate Their Due Diligence: The first deal they send you is a test. Is the ARV realistic? Are the rehab costs even remotely accurate? Do they have all the property information ready (pictures, video walkthroughs, and a clear breakdown of their numbers)? If their initial presentation is sloppy, it's a huge red flag.

3. Look for Key Traits

The best wholesalers share common traits that set them apart from the amateurs.

• They are Problem Solvers: They don't just find a property; they find a motivated seller with a problem and bring you a solution. This could be a distressed property, a probate case, a pre-foreclosure, etc.
• They Have a Strong Buyer's List (and they vet you, too): The most professional wholesalers have a huge, active buyer's list. They will also vet you as a buyer, asking about your funding and experience. This is a good sign that they're serious and not just blasting deals to a generic email list.
• They are Transparent: They will tell you upfront if they're assigning a contract or doing a double close. They'll also be honest about the property's condition and any potential issues they've found.

The Best Strategy

A good strategy is to find a few of the most active, legitimate wholesalers in your area and build a relationship with them. When you're consistently closing on their deals and making their lives easier, they will start sending their best deals to you first, before they even go out to the rest of their list. This gives you a significant competitive advantage.

Luis Maqueira · Answer

Hi Mr. Drew,

We’re a wholesaler group, but before we make any recommendations, I’d like to ask:
What does a good wholesaler look like to you?
That way, we can better understand what you're looking for and guide you to the right one.

I agree with Nick — it’s the deal that matters more than the wholesaler.

When I sell houses, people often ask, “Who’s the bank?” I always say, “Don’t worry, I work with the worst bank possible — hopefully they go out of business and cancel your loan!”

the point is: it's not about who holds the debt — it’s about the numbers.

Same with wholesalers. If you're expecting an amazing deal — $50K to $90K below value, smooth process, and a $5K assignment fee — Not easy to find you get what you pay for.

Build a relationship with the wholesaler.
Tell them what you need to make money. Go through the numbers together. That’s how you create a consistent pipeline of good deals.

You mentioned you've been in the business since 2010, so you know the game.the deal is just the 30%  — it’s how you buy it, finance it, rehab it (time and cost) — that’s where the profit is made.

At the end of the day, it’s all about cash-on-cash results.

Best regards,

Izaiah Barba · Answer

I suggest calling them up to vet them. I usually ask "what have been a few of the last property addresses you have wholesaled?" and if they stumble, thats a red flag. If they do give you addresses, then you can skip trace the buyer and ask about their experience. Or you can ask the wholesaler if they have any references for buyers they have worked with that they are comfortable sharing. And to make it not weird when asking these questions, you can frame it in a way that you had bad experiences in the past and just want to make sure we are a good fit moving forward.

Nick C. · Answer

There's only one question that matters - do they have a good deal? If yes, buy it. If not, pass on it.

The rest is just fluff; brochures, pamphlets, referrals, embroidered logo on their collared polo... who cares; either they have a good deal or they don't.

Drew Mullin · Answer

Thanks Nicholas i appreciate the reply and thoughts- all sounds good to me. I used to go to reia where I'm at but in 2010 and should attend again. are there any national wholesale agencies that people like or is that not necessarily a thing? Thx again

How to vet wholesalers?

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