Why the Right Data Is the Difference Between a Closed Deal and a Dead Lead
If you’re in the surplus funds or asset recovery business, you already know the hard truth:
Leads don’t mean much if you can’t reach the claimant.
It doesn’t matter how good your list is.
It doesn’t matter how skilled your cold callers are.
If you’re chasing bad data, you’re not running a business—you’re burning time.
That’s where skip tracing comes in. And not just any skip tracing—accurate, fast, and deep-sourced tools that connect you with real people at the right number, right now.
In this blog, we’ll break down:
- Why skip tracing is the lifeblood of your recovery business
- What happens when your data sucks
- The top four skip tracing tools used by the best in the game
- And how to choose the right tool for your specific workflow
Why Skip Tracing Is Everything in Surplus Funds
Surplus funds recovery revolves around contact.
No matter how much money is sitting in escrow from a foreclosure auction, you don’t get paid unless you can talk to the person owed that money—and get them to move.
But here’s the problem:
The people you’re trying to help are often:
- Recently foreclosed on
- Relocated with no forwarding address
- Off the grid
- Skeptical, scared, or angry
- Using burner phones or old numbers
In other words, they’re not easy to find.
And if you’re relying on free tools or surface-level data, you’re wasting your time.
The Top 4 Skip Tracing Tools for Surplus & Asset Recovery
1. Skipify – AI based skip tracing tool Built for Closers Who Need quick Results
If you’re in active outreach mode—dialing, following up, and closing fast—Skipify is built for you.
It’s not just data. You get pre-vetted claimant numbers, often with voicemail recordings and pre-confirmed identity links. No more second-guessing. Just call and close.
What Sets It Apart:
- Verified contact info with call recordings
- Voicemail matching (proving it’s them)
- DNC-scrubbed (Available for extra $$$)
- Real-time updates
- Perfect for “Fruit Drops” style high-converting leads like ours
2. IDI Core – Deep Data with Layered Lookup Capabilities
When you’re dealing with complex claims—like heirs, deceased estates, or multi-party payouts—IDI Core goes further.
It offers deep integrations with public, proprietary, and utility data sources, allowing you to trace someone’s movement and connections over time.
What Sets It Apart:
- Historical addresses, emails, and phone numbers
- Utility hookups (gas, water, electric—real-time movements)
- Advanced linking to associates and relatives
- Powerful filter options for narrowing searches
3. TLOxp – The Legal Industry’s Favorite Tool
TLOxp has been a mainstay in skip tracing for years. Used by attorneys, PI firms, and government agencies, it’s built for precision and legal defensibility.
It’s not flashy, but it’s extremely powerful in the hands of someone who knows how to use it.
What Sets It Apart:
- Deep dive person and asset searches
- Ties to vehicle ownership, liens, and real estate
- Easy to validate phone and address records
- Used widely in legal and court-driven processes
4. LexisNexis – The Gold Standard for Multi-Dimensional Validation
If your focus is validating claimants, preventing fraud, and supporting court-submitted filings, LexisNexis is unbeatable.
It combines millions of verified records from every public and financial angle, making it a weapon for those working high-dollar cases.
What Sets It Apart:
- Identity risk analytics
- Bankruptcy and lien history
- Ties to court systems and public filings
- Often used by banks and insurance companies
But here’s the best part—you don’t need to juggle multiple tools anymore.
Surplus Fortune handles it all for you.
We run every lead through Skip tracing tools similar to Skipify, IDI, and Lexis Nexis so you only get clean, claimant-verified data.
Just Call-to-close surplus leads backed by elite-level skip tracing.
All done as soon as the lead hits your screen.
