Updated May 21, 2026
Key Takeaways
- A skip tracing VA finds current contact information for property owners using public records and data tools.
- Real estate investors using skip tracing convert leads at 3-5x the rate of cold lists.
- Stealth Agents VAs start at $10/hr for dedicated skip tracing research support.
- Dedicated full-time VAs build speed and accuracy with your preferred data sources over time.
- Quality contact data is the foundation of every direct-to-seller marketing campaign.
Skip tracing is the research process that turns an address into a conversation. For real estate investors, debt collectors, and legal professionals, finding accurate contact information for property owners or persons of interest is the difference between a cold list and a live lead. A virtual assistant for skip tracing handles that research at scale so your team spends time on outreach rather than lookup tables.
Real estate investors who use skip-traced lists for direct mail and cold calling report 3-5x higher conversion rates than investors using unverified public lists, according to practitioner data from BiggerPockets. The data quality does the work before the first call is made.
What a Virtual Assistant for Skip Tracing Does
A skip tracing VA uses data tools and public records to find current, verified contact information for a target list.
Property owner research starts with an address or parcel number. VAs use county assessor records, tax rolls, and title search data to identify the current legal owner. For absentee owners, corporate-held properties, or LLCs, VAs dig deeper - finding the registered agent, the principal owner behind the entity, and any associated individuals.
Contact information lookup uses skip tracing tools like BatchSkipTracing, TLO, LexisNexis, or BeenVerified to find phone numbers, email addresses, and mailing addresses associated with the identified owner. Multiple data sources cross-referenced against each other improve accuracy significantly.
Data verification confirms that the contact information found matches the target individual. VAs flag records with low confidence scores and prioritize records with multiple source confirmations for your outreach list.
List formatting delivers results in your required format - CSV or spreadsheet with standardized columns for first name, last name, phone numbers, email, and mailing address - ready to import into your dialer, CRM, or direct mail platform.
Batch processing handles volume. VAs process 50-200 addresses per day depending on research depth and data source speed. High-volume campaigns with bulk inputs through skip tracing platforms can push this significantly higher.
Why Skip Tracing Needs Dedicated Capacity
Skip tracing is research work - methodical, tool-dependent, and time-consuming when done right. Pulling 100 addresses through a skip tracing platform takes 2-4 hours of focused work. Verifying the outputs, resolving mismatches, and formatting the list adds more time.
For active investors running direct mail or cold calling campaigns, skip tracing is a weekly or monthly recurring task. Assigning it to a team member whose primary role is sales or acquisitions means the research competes with outreach for the same hours - and one of them loses.
A virtual assistant for skip tracing owns the research so your acquisition team owns the outreach. Stealth Agents VAs start at $10/hr. For investors spending $500-$2,000 per month on skip tracing data services, a dedicated VA ensures that spend delivers clean, formatted, ready-to-use output rather than raw data that still needs hours of work.
Stealth Agents provides dedicated full-time VAs, not shared staff. Your skip tracing VA builds proficiency with your preferred tools and your specific market over time - learning which data sources are most reliable for your target property types and locations.
Setting Up Your Skip Tracing VA
Tool access - your VA needs accounts in your skip tracing platforms. BatchSkipTracing, PropStream, TLO, and similar services have team or sub-account options. Confirm the access structure before onboarding.
Input format - a standard spreadsheet template with the information you will provide (address, assessor parcel number, owner name if available). Consistent input format speeds processing.
Output format - define the columns you need in the delivered list. Standardize this so every batch integrates cleanly with your dialer or CRM without reformatting.
Quality threshold - define your confidence standard. Some campaigns prioritize volume; others prioritize verified contacts only. Your VA applies your criteria to every batch.
Legal compliance brief - skip tracing must comply with FCRA, state-specific regulations, and acceptable use policies for data tools. Provide a brief covering what the data can be used for and what is off-limits.
FAQ
Q: What platforms do skip tracing VAs use?
A: Stealth Agents VAs work with BatchSkipTracing, PropStream, REISkip, TLO, LexisNexis, BeenVerified, and similar platforms. Specify your preferred tools and account access during intake.
Q: How much does a skip tracing VA cost?
A: Stealth Agents VAs start at $10/hr for dedicated full-time support. Skip tracing is often paired with list management, CRM data entry, or lead research within a full-time VA role focused on real estate acquisitions support.
Q: Is skip tracing legal?
A: Yes, when conducted for permissible purposes (real estate acquisitions, debt collection, legal process) using compliant data providers. Your VA works within your defined use case and the terms of your data service agreements.
A virtual assistant for skip tracing turns raw address lists into actionable leads at a pace your team alone cannot match. Stealth Agents can match you with the right VA this week.