The One Tool I’ll Never Buy Real Estate Without Again

Written By Alan Danielson

Have you ever see something so simple, so genius, that you smack your own forehead and say, “Why didn’t I think of that?”  That was me on a video call with John Siegman, the President of a new company called PropertyLens.

John and his co-founder come from the insurance world — the “risk management” side, to be exact — and what they’ve built is what I can only describe as:  “CarFax on steroids for Real Estate.”

No fluff. No guesswork. Just hundreds of data points, mined and analyzed by AI, then delivered in a report so comprehensive it’ll make your home inspector feel underdressed.

To prove the power of their software, John walked me through a PropertyLens report for a deal one of my clients is considering:  a multifamily apartment complex in Roanoke, Texas. The info the system surfaced was astonishing! In just a few minutes I had a report that will make my client able to assess the entire property’s risk profile.

Here’s what stood out:

  • No registered sex offenders nearby (always good to know).

  • Termites are a common issue — so have it inspected.

  • Roof risk is higher than it seems. Although it's only a year old and should be in great shape, it's better not to assume.  Last week we had baseball sized hail, which could total a new roof, so it should be re-checked.

  • Check the water for PFAS contamination. This is becoming a hot-button health concern, and this property sits in a high-risk area.

  • Solar might be a smart move, if the property is master-metered. If the units are individually metered, it’s likely not worth the cost.

  • A security system could reduce burglary risk (and maybe even the insurance premium).

  • Check the soil. Runoff risk is high and that can lead to foundation headaches down the line.

This wasn’t guesswork. It wasn’t surface-level speculation. It was cold, hard, detailed data — much of which most buyers never think to ask.

Let me say this clearly:
I will never make another real estate purchase without using this service. Even at full price, it's worth every penny when you’re about to drop tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or millions of dollars on a property.  Shoot, last summer I paid around $50 for a CarFax report on a car that will never be worth the cost of a house!

For the record, these reports normally cost:

  • $69 for one

  • $259 for five ($50 each)

  • $399 for ten ($40 each)

BUT — John was generous enough to offer a discount exclusively for readers of this blog.  Use this link to checkout and you’ll get a 15% discount . Enjoy the savings! By the way, I’m not making a dime for this post or for your purchases of PopertyLens reports. This is purely a case of me loving an amazing product and telling you about it!

A few final notes:

  • PropertyLens covers commercial properties at no extra charge.

  • These reports aren’t just useful — they’re invaluable. I honestly can’t think of a more thorough and affordable way to uncover hidden risks before you buy.

  • And yes, John gave me permission to share clips from a sample report on a property at 54 Stone Road in Sudbury, MA. If you want a sneak peek, I’ve posted some images and excerpts below.

Every report includes with a ‘BuyerLens’ snapshot — clear, prioritized red flags you’d never see on Zillow.

Predictive repair costs? Yes, please. You won’t get this level of foresight from a walk-through.

Risk = money. These reports even help you understand what you might pay in insurance — and what’s lurking just beyond the fence line.

So if you’re serious about buying real estate the smart way — whether it’s your first house, your next rental, or a six-figure flip — don’t guess. Don’t assume. Don’t hope the inspector catches it all.  Check them out at https://www.propertylens.com/.  You won't be sorry!

Get a PropertyLens report and know before you buy.

Stay smart.
– Alan

Alan Danielson
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