If a deal is real… why does it need to be hidden?
I got another call this week from a wholesaler.
They had a “great opportunity” and wanted to know if I was interested.
I said, “Sure—send it over.”
Their response?
“I just need you to sign a non-disclosure agreement first.”
And my answer—like it always is—was simple:
“I appreciate you reaching out, but we just don’t align in how we do business.”
When Did This Become Normal?
Somewhere along the way, this became standard practice—especially with larger wholesaling operations.
Before you can even look at a deal, you’re asked to sign a document that essentially says:
- You won’t go around them
- You won’t contact the seller
- You won’t bypass their position
And listen—I understand why they do it.
They’re trying to protect their deal.
But here’s the question no one seems to be asking:
If You Already Have the Deal… What Are You Protecting?
If a wholesaler has a signed purchase agreement with the seller, then their position is already secured.
That’s no different than a real estate agent with a listing agreement.
And here’s the key distinction:
👉 I can look at any property on the MLS without signing an NDA 👉 I can evaluate it, run comps, and make an offer 👉 And no one questions that process
So why is this different?
The Real Issue: Lack of Transparency
This is where things start to break down.
Because in many cases, the NDA isn’t just about “protection.”
It’s about control.
And sometimes… it’s about keeping things from being fully transparent.
Let me ask a simple question:
Does the seller know their property is being marketed this way?
Because if they do—if everything is out in the open—then what’s the need for secrecy?
The Cost of This Approach
Here’s the irony…
The people wholesalers want to work with— experienced, credible, performance-based buyers—
…are often the same people who won’t sign these agreements.
So what happens?
- Good buyers walk away
- Deals get limited exposure
- And the process becomes more complicated than it needs to be
I can tell you personally:
I’ve passed on multiple opportunities—not because the deal wasn’t good…
…but because the process didn’t feel right.
There’s a Better Way
At the end of the day, this business doesn’t need more paperwork.
It needs more clarity.
More alignment.
And most importantly—more transparency with the seller.
Because when the seller understands:
- Who’s involved
- How the deal works
- And what everyone’s role is
👉 You don’t need NDAs to hold things together.
Final Thought
I don’t fault wholesalers for trying to protect themselves.
But I do think it’s worth asking:
Are we protecting the deal… or compensating for a lack of transparency?
Because the best deals I’ve ever been part of—
The ones that actually close—
Don’t rely on secrecy.
They rely on trust.
About the Author
Paul Baird is the co-founder of 1-800-BUY-HOUSES and creator of The Perfect Cash Offer™. Over the past 20+ years, he has purchased and renovated more than 500 homes, totaling over $500M in real estate transactions.
Paul is passionate about bringing transparency to the cash offer space—helping homeowners, agents, and investors understand that:
Not all cash offers are created equal.
