Question 1

What is the difference between Free preview, Pro, and Team?

Accepted Answer

Free preview covers one county with a ranked weekly preview, up to 5 leads per week, and 10 watchlist pins. Pro expands to 3 counties, up to 50 leads per week, a weekly ranked digest, and 50 pins for one operator. Team covers 12 counties with a daily digest, unlimited team leads, up to 5 seats, 500 pins, API access, and statute-aware state filters.

Question 2

How do territory, capacity, and cadence change as I scale?

Accepted Answer

The tiers are designed around how much territory an acquisition desk can actually work: one county and a weekly preview on Free, three counties and a weekly digest on Pro, and twelve counties with daily delivery on Team. Capacity rises from 5 leads per week to 50, then unlimited team leads; a wider queue is useful only when you have a process for verifying and contacting it.

Question 3

What is the difference between my watchlist and the weekly digest?

Accepted Answer

The watchlist is your working queue: pin a property and return to its signal history, source context, and outreach workspace. The weekly digest is a ranked batch delivered on a cadence, helping you review new opportunities without scanning every record. Use the watchlist for active follow-up and the digest for a repeatable Monday review.

Question 4

Which public-record signal types does Docketbeat track?

Accepted Answer

The current signal library covers code violations, tax liens, pre-foreclosure filings, expired permits, and zoning changes. Availability varies by county and source portal, so each surfaced record identifies the jurisdiction and source context. A signal is a research lead, not a conclusion about a property owner or a guaranteed opportunity.

Question 5

How should I read a ranked signal?

Accepted Answer

Ranking helps you decide what to inspect first using the available signal, property, timing, and source context. It does not replace the underlying docket or a title, legal, occupancy, or financial review. Open the source trail, confirm that the record is current, and apply your own acquisition criteria before putting a property into outreach.

Question 6

What does a pre-foreclosure signal tell an investor?

Accepted Answer

It indicates that a foreclosure-related filing or default-stage record is visible in a public source; it does not provide a universal countdown or predict a sale. States, loan types, court paths, cure rights, postponements, and recording practices differ. Read the state-specific checkpoints in the pre-foreclosure timing guide and verify the live file with the relevant clerk, trustee, or qualified counsel before acting.

Question 7

What should I do when a code-enforcement citation appears?

Accepted Answer

Treat the citation as a prompt to inspect the official case, violation, cure window, property condition, and current ownership information. A citation may be corrected, dismissed, appealed, or tied to a municipal process that changes over time. Verify the docket and local rules first; then decide whether a respectful, clearly identified outreach message fits your process and applicable law.

Question 8

Does Docketbeat provide an outreach template for each signal type?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The outreach workspace includes a starting template for each live trigger: code_violation, tax_lien, pre_foreclosure, expired_permit, and zoning_change. Each letter is an editable research aid that uses the signal context without treating it as a verdict; review the source record, property identity, timing, and contact path before sending anything.

Question 9

When should a signal lead to outreach?

Accepted Answer

Outreach is most useful after you have confirmed the source record, timing, property identity, and a lawful contact path. A fresh signal can tell you what to research next, but it should not trigger pressure, impersonation, or an assumption about someone’s situation. Use the trigger-specific letter as an editable starting point, identify yourself plainly, and follow your counsel’s guidance and opt-out process.

Question 10

Is Docketbeat’s signal or outreach copy legal advice?

Accepted Answer

No. Docketbeat organizes public-record research and provides operational starting points; it does not interpret a specific loan, determine title, predict a sale, or approve a marketing campaign. Confirm records with the authoritative source and consult licensed counsel or another qualified professional for property-specific, foreclosure, fair-housing, debt-collection, telemarketing, or state-notice questions.

Know what the signal means before you act.

Coverage, cadence, and responsible follow-through.

Choose the territory and cadence your team can work.