Today's step: put five rows from your list into your tracker. Five is enough. If you're stuck, write down the exact thing that's blocking you instead. Comment with: "5 rows in" or "Blocked on: [the exact missing thing]". A clearly written blocker counts as progress. It's what you'll bring to office hours.

Starting this Friday, Oct 16, we're running a free 7-day sprint: First File in 7 Days. The goal is simple. By next Thursday you'll have one sourced file, or a clearly documented blocker, and a sharper question. It follows the sprint on page 18 of the Starter Map. How it works: - Each morning at 10 AM Eastern I post that day's step here in the community. - - Do the step, then drop a one-line update in the comments of that day's post. Counties and dates only. Never owner names, case numbers or dollar amounts. - - Day 7 (Thursday, Oct 22) ends at office hours, 7–8 PM Eastern, with Carl and Matt, live on Google Meet. Bring your file. What you need: the free Starter Map (surplusfundssecrets.com/starter-map), 30 to 60 minutes a day, and one county. Comment "in" below and name the state you're starting in. This is a research schedule, not a promise of a claim, a recovery or income.

Today's step: find the official list for your county. If there isn't one online, send the records request. Write down where the list came from and the dates it covers. Comment with: "Found it — [type of source], covers [dates]" or "Requested — [office], sent [date]". If the office says it has no list, ask for the existing ledger or report that tracks the money it holds. Don't ask them to build a list for you.