Skip tracing

How to handle old landlord numbers from your skip trace

Sometimes your skip trace data for an absentee owner will return old landlord numbers, meaning phone numbers associated with past rental properties he or she owned. Do not discard these contacts immediately; they can still be useful if you approach them correctly.

October 17, 2026 · 3 min read

Why old landlord numbers appear

Skip tracing aggregates data from various sources. If an owner previously used a specific phone number for business purposes related to an older rental property, that number might persist in the public record or databases. Even if the owner no longer uses it for that specific property, it might still be his or her contact number.

The key is that these numbers were once legitimately linked to the owner's investment activities. They are not necessarily "wrong numbers" in the traditional sense, but they require a different verification and outreach strategy.

Verifying the current owner's connection

Before calling, cross-reference the old landlord number with other data points you have for the owner. Check for any other mobile numbers provided by the skip trace. If you have an email address or a different mailing address, use these for supplementary verification.

Sometimes, a quick online search of the number itself can reveal current business listings or social media profiles linked to the owner. This extra step helps confirm if the number is still active for him or her.

Prioritizing old landlord numbers

If the skip trace provides multiple numbers, prioritize current mobile numbers directly linked to the owner's primary residence first. Old landlord numbers typically fall lower on your call list, above landlines but below current personal mobile numbers. Treat them as secondary but viable options.

Do not spend excessive time on them if you have stronger leads. However, if the old landlord number is the only mobile number returned, it moves higher in priority.

Crafting your outreach message

When contacting an old landlord number, your initial message needs to be slightly different. Acknowledge that you are calling about the specific property you are interested in, but avoid assuming the number is a current business line. You might say, "Hello, is this [Owner's Name]? I'm calling about the property at [Property Address]."

Be prepared for him or her to confirm if it is a personal or business line. If it is an old business line, the owner might direct you to a new number or confirm he or she still uses it for personal matters. Adapt your script to be flexible and non-assumptive.

Knowing when to re-skip trace

If repeated attempts on all provided numbers, including old landlord lines, yield no contact, consider a re-skip trace. Data providers regularly update their databases, and a fresh search might uncover more recent or accurate contact information. This is especially true if the owner has recently updated his or her contact details.

Do not rely on stale data. If the initial skip trace results are predominantly old or disconnected numbers, a re-skip can be a valuable investment. It helps you avoid wasting time on contacts that are no longer viable.

Questions people ask

Are these numbers usually landlines?

Not necessarily. Old landlord numbers can be either landlines or mobile numbers that were once used for a rental business. The key distinction is their historical association with a specific investment property.

Should I try these numbers before other mobiles?

Generally, no. Always prioritize numbers that appear to be the owner's current, personal mobile number. Old landlord numbers are secondary and should be called after you have exhausted the primary, more direct contacts.

How often does this happen with absentee owner leads?

It happens fairly often, especially with owners who have owned multiple rental properties over the years. The more properties an absentee owner has held, the higher the chance that older, investment-related contact numbers will appear in skip trace results.