If you’ve ever submitted information somewhere online and then heard nothing for a month, you know how unsatisfying that is. We try to do the opposite. Here’s exactly what happens between the moment you press submit and the moment a property tip becomes — or doesn’t become — actionable.
Step 1: We receive your tip
When you submit the form, the report lands in our intake queue immediately. You receive an automatic confirmation email within a minute or two. That confirmation includes a private status link unique to your submission. You can use it any time to check where things stand.
Step 2: We check for duplicates
The first thing our team does is check whether the property is already in our records. Some properties get reported multiple times — usually because multiple neighbors notice the same vacancy. Duplicate reports are not a problem (we appreciate them), but we don’t process them as new leads.
Step 3: We confirm the location
If you submitted a full street address, this is quick. If you submitted nearest cross streets or a description, we use mapping tools and street-view imagery to identify the specific property you mean. If we can’t figure it out from what you sent, this is when we may email you for a clarification — usually one short follow-up question.
Step 4: We research the property
Once we have a confirmed property, we look at the records that public databases and our research tools make available — title history, ownership records, recent transactions, tax status, neighborhood comparable activity, and visible condition indicators. None of this involves contacting the owner or visiting the property. It’s all desk research.
Step 5: We make a determination
Based on what we find, the report ends up in one of a few states:
- Under review: we’re still working on it
- Need more info: we need a clarification (we’ll email you)
- Accepted: the property meets our review criteria and has been added to our active list
- Not qualified: the property doesn’t meet current criteria, often for reasons that have nothing to do with the report quality (already on file, occupied despite appearance, outside our service area, etc.)
- Closed / reward eligible: the property has moved through our process to its conclusion, and the submitter may be eligible for compensation depending on program rules, location, and applicable law
Your private status link reflects the current state of your specific report. Whenever we change it, the change is visible on your status page.
What we do not do
We do not call the owner on your behalf. We do not knock on doors as a follow-up to your report. We do not list your name on any external paperwork. We do not represent you to anyone. We do not share your contact information beyond our internal review team. We do not ask you to take further action after submission.
Timing
Most reports get an initial review within a few business days. Some properties take longer to evaluate, particularly when ownership records are unclear or the property has a complicated history. You may receive brief automatic updates at the three-day and seven-day mark if your report is still under review.
If your report results in a closed opportunity, our team will contact you directly to discuss next steps. Otherwise, the status page is the source of truth.
Noticed a property worth a closer look?