A confident offer requires complete information. Most wholesalers make offers with incomplete data because collecting the full picture from a seller is slow and inconsistent without a defined process. This checklist covers every input you need before you commit to a number. For a broader look at the workflow, see the virtual wholesaling checklist.
Part 1: Property Details (Confirm on the Call)
- ✓ Full property address
- ✓ Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
- ✓ Square footage (confirm against county records)
- ✓ Year built
- ✓ Lot size
- ✓ Property type: single family, multi-family, mobile home
- ✓ Garage: attached, detached, none
- ✓ Basement: full, partial, crawl space, slab
- ✓ Is the property occupied or vacant?
- ✓ Does the seller have full access to the property?
Part 2: Seller Situation (Qualify Motivation)
- ✓ Why are they selling?
- ✓ What is their ideal timeline?
- ✓ Do they still owe on the property? Approximate balance?
- ✓ Are they current on taxes and mortgage?
- ✓ Are there any liens, judgments, or title issues they know of?
- ✓ Is the property in probate or part of an estate?
- ✓ Are there multiple owners? Is everyone in agreement on selling?
- ✓ What do they need to net to make the sale work?
Motivation is everything. A seller who needs to move in 30 days due to a job relocation and owes $40k on a $120k ARV house is a different deal than a seller who is casually testing the market. Qualify motivation before you invest time in the documentation and underwriting steps.
Part 3: Property Condition (Ask on the Call, Confirm with Photos)
- ✓ Roof: age, any known leaks or damage?
- ✓ HVAC: age, last serviced, working?
- ✓ Electrical: any known issues, panel updated?
- ✓ Plumbing: any known leaks, pipe type if they know it?
- ✓ Foundation: any cracks, water in the basement?
- ✓ Any fire, flood, or major damage history?
- ✓ Any mold or pest issues?
- ✓ Kitchen and baths: original or updated?
- ✓ Flooring: what type throughout, condition?
- ✓ Windows: single pane or updated double pane?
Verbal answers give you a starting point. Do not underwrite based on what the seller tells you about condition. Sellers are not always accurate, and they are not always forthcoming about problems. Verify everything with photos.
Part 4: Property Photos (The Most Important Step)
This is where most documentation processes break down. Asking a seller to text or email photos produces an inconsistent, incomplete result every time. The solution is to send the seller a guided submission link that walks them through every room and validates every photo before they can submit.
Photos Required Before Making an Offer
- ✓ All exterior elevations
- ✓ Roof condition shots
- ✓ HVAC unit with data plate visible
- ✓ Electrical panel open
- ✓ Water heater with age label
- ✓ Every room: kitchen, all bathrooms, all bedrooms, living areas
- ✓ Basement: all walls and floor
- ✓ Any visible damage areas anywhere in the house
SellerSubmit automates this entire section. Send the seller one link. They complete a guided room-by-room flow in under 10 minutes. AI validates every photo. Everything lands in your dashboard organized by room. No follow-up needed.
Part 5: Title and Legal (Verify Before Closing)
- ✓ Confirm seller is on title (pull county records)
- ✓ Check for open liens (mortgage, tax, mechanic's liens)
- ✓ Confirm no active foreclosure proceedings
- ✓ Verify no lis pendens on the property
- ✓ If estate sale: confirm letters testamentary or proper authority
Your title company will catch most of these during the title search, but identifying issues early saves time and prevents deals from blowing up after you have already marketed them to buyers.
What to Do When the Documentation Is Incomplete
If you cannot get complete documentation before making an offer, build your contingency into the contract. A due diligence or inspection period gives you the right to renegotiate or exit if what you find after going under contract does not match what the seller represented. Do not skip this protection, especially on deals where the documentation is thin. For guidance on making the offer itself, see how to make an offer on a house you have never seen.