A DSCR lead purchase should start with a clear question: does this inquiry give your team a reasonable opportunity to speak with an investor whose financing needs fit your business?
Price matters, but it does not answer that question by itself. Before choosing a supplier, understand what you receive, how the inquiry was collected, how many other buyers may receive it, and what your team must do next.
Use this checklist to compare providers and plan a measured test.
1. Define the inquiries your team can work
Write down the states, property types, financing purposes, loan sizes, and timelines your team serves. Identify who will receive new inquiries and when they can respond.
Then ask the supplier which preferences it can actually support. A field appearing in a sample does not mean you can filter by that field before purchasing. Request a direct explanation of available selection criteria, expected availability, and any limits.
Your goal is to understand fit before committing money or staff time.
2. Ask where the inquiry originated
Ask how the person first expressed interest and what happened between submission and delivery. Was the inquiry generated through a supplier-controlled form, obtained through a partner, or acquired from another source?
Request an explanation of the records available for each inquiry, such as submission time, source information, and relevant permission documentation. Ask which records your team can review and retain.
A broad description of sourcing is useful context. Evidence connected to the individual inquiry is more useful when you need to investigate a question later.
3. Separate provided information from verified information
A detailed lead record may contain several kinds of information: what the investor entered, what a third party checked, and what the supplier calculated.
Ask the provider to distinguish those categories. A reported credit range is different from a credit check. An entered property value is different from a supported valuation. An estimated rental figure is different from documented rent.
For anything described as verified, ask what was checked, how it was checked, and when. Also ask what happens when information is missing or fails a check. More fields can help your team prepare, but the field count alone does not establish accuracy.
4. Understand freshness and sharing
Ask what each timestamp means. Time since submission, time since verification, and time since delivery measure different things.
Get a clear answer about how many buyers may receive the same inquiry, whether delivery happens together or sequentially, and whether the record may be offered again later. If a provider uses labels such as “live” or “exclusive,” ask for the specific definition that applies to your purchase.
Use those answers to set expectations for your team’s outreach and to compare offers on equivalent terms.
5. Review a sample and the delivery process
Walk through an explicitly fictional sample record before buying. Can your team identify the investor’s financing purpose, property information, requested amount, preferred timing, and contact details? Can it see which information still needs clarification?
Next, confirm how purchased records arrive and who receives them. Understand how delivery failures are identified and handled.
A useful sample shows both the information available and the work that remains. It should help you prepare for a conversation, without implying that the inquiry is a complete loan file.
6. Read the purchase and replacement details
Confirm the price, any minimum commitment, payment arrangement, and the process for changing or stopping future purchases.
Review the supplier’s written replacement or credit policy. Ask which situations qualify, what evidence is required, how quickly a request must be made, and how the result is communicated.
A person who does not answer immediately, a duplicate record, and incorrect contact information are different situations. Know how the supplier handles each before your team encounters them.
7. Plan the follow-up and measure the test
Assign a person to each inquiry and record when outreach begins. A lead still requires a conversation: confirm the investor’s interest, clarify the information provided, understand the financing request, and decide the appropriate next step through your normal process.
Agree on outcome definitions before the test begins. Track purchased inquiries, successful contacts, qualified opportunities, applications, and funded loans. Define a qualified opportunity using your own business criteria.
Calculate lead spend per qualified opportunity by dividing spend by that count. Calculate lead spend per funded loan the same way, while recognizing that recent inquiries may still be progressing. If you include staff or other costs, label the measure accordingly.
Review comparable groups over a consistent period. A small early result is a starting point for investigation, not a reliable promise of future performance.
Take the next step with a concrete example
Use the checklist while reviewing LeedWallet’s sample lead. Note what the example answers and what you still want to confirm.
When you are ready to discuss your business’s requirements, visit LeedWallet and use the buyer inquiry form. Bring your questions about current availability, selection criteria, delivery, and purchase terms.