Fancy doing some due diligence for pay?

[Clinton]

There is money to be made but I won't kid anyone that there's a huge market and you can make thousands from day one. People need to first know that you are available and need to see for themselves that you have the skills. In the early days people approached me because they liked posts I made in SP, webmasterworld and other places. I did a lot of free work. Free means you get to see the stats etc., but not take on the risk. Whenever I did any such work I genuinely tried my best to help the client. I came away with a lot of knowledge about how a particular site earned money and, importantly, built up a base of people who would be happy to recommend me or write me a reference if I wanted.

What motivated me to start this thread? I was approached by someone who wanted DD help. I didn't have the time and I had nobody I could send him to. In the end I recommended he contact hooperman. Why hooperman? Because he was the only one I knew who demonstrated (via his blog) and interest and ability in spotting scams. I then figured there must be other people like him here who have the skill but may not have ever considered doing DD work for money (or fun) and may have never advertised their availability.

Thanks for the example of the survey report. I've always wondered about the value of those! I had a full structural survey done the last time I bought a house (the most expensive kind) and it's amazing what the surveyor is not responsible for.

[3Six]

Sounds interesting, count me in as well, please.

[Clinton]

I've started the thread. It may be months before you hear from someone but we'll be getting less experienced buyers signing up in due course (the type who would need this service).

[tvanslooten]

Clinton:

Is there anyway I could add this list to my website? As you've mentioned, this is a much needed service in the site flipping industry. And I agree with you, a guy could make a killing offering this type of service! I wish I was experienced enough myself to do it because I would. At any rate, I think this service you're offering (the list of experts) needs more exposure. Would you have a problem with me adding something to my site?

I don't know yet how I would do it because I'd be recommending people that my visitors wouldn't "know" since it wouldn't be in the context of a forum. I could provide a link to the forum and to the specific post, which I will do regardless - but is there a way I can make this list a more official thing? Maybe I can contact the guys on this list and ask them if they want to be promoted on my site as a due diligence guy? I could provide a picture of them (if they wanted - although I would highly recommend it) and a quick bio and then a link to their website. And if they're charging for the service, I could put their rates too.

Either way, I'd really like to get behind this and get this resource out to my visitors as most of them aren't experienced flippers. What say you?

Travis

P.S. If any of you guys on that list are interested in this, shoot me a PM. As Clinton says, you might be able to make some good money with this on the side.

[Clinton]

Hi Travis, I have no problem with you talking on your site about the people here who may be available for DD. I have no problem with you contacting them by PM either (as long as I don't get any complaints about PM spam ).

I don't know yet how I would do it because I'd be recommending people that my visitors wouldn't "know" since it wouldn't be in the context of a forum.

When choosing someone to do your DD you need to be satisfied they have the competence and you need to have trust in their abilities. If individual members here wish to put up pages somewhere describing their abilities I'm happy to link to them (or they can link from their profiles/signatures). But I like the idea of users being able to browse threads here (and elsewhere) and judge members' abilities from the sense they make in their comments.

[tvanslooten]

I agree. And one of the things I would put on my list is a strong recommendation that they join this forum and browse the threads to learn more about the people on the list. A picture and a bio only says so much - but being able to read posts by them can give some great insight. I'll keep you posted if I create anything. I'll only do it if there is interest by those on the list.

Thanks,

Travis

When choosing someone to do your DD you need to be satisfied they have the competence and you need to have trust in their abilities. If individual members here wish to put up pages somewhere describing their abilities I'm happy to link to them (or they can link from their profiles/signatures). But I like the idea of users being able to browse threads here (and elsewhere) and judge members' abilities from the sense they make in their comments.