Your options, compared honestly

1. Star Thing Wind vs filing it yourself

Where filing yourself is better

• It's free. The county doesn't charge a recovery fee, though a court or notary may charge a small fee.
• You keep 100% of what's paid to you.
• If your case is simple (you're the only owner, there are no competing liens, and you have the notice date), the county's own form is usually enough.

Where we can help

• Confirming the surplus is real and how much it is.
• Checking liens and debts that are paid before you.
• Preparing the county's form for your signature and sending the signed form at your direction.
• Tracking the deadline and handling the back-and-forth with the county office.

What it costs with us: up to 25% combined with any attorney's fee, shown in writing before you sign. No recovery, no fee, and no costs. We offer paid help only for tax-sale surplus, in 14 states; everywhere else, and for foreclosure surplus, each state's page shows the free way to claim.

2. Star Thing Wind vs hiring your own attorney

Where an attorney is better

• Only an attorney can represent you in court, give legal advice, or handle a contested claim, a probate question or a dispute between claimants.
• Some courts and states require an attorney for certain claims.

Where we can help

• The non-legal work around the claim: confirming the surplus, checking liens, preparing paperwork for your signature, tracking the deadline.
• If your claim needs an attorney, you hire and pay them directly under their own agreement. Our fee is set separately, and before you sign we show you both fees and the total in writing, never more than 25% combined.

3. Star Thing Wind vs a company that buys or takes over your claim

What to know about companies that buy or take an assignment of your claim

• Some states limit or void those deals (for example Florida caps what a buyer of foreclosure surplus may be paid at 12%, F.S. §45.033).
• Once you assign the claim, it isn't yours any more.

How we're different

• We never take title to your claim or your money. You stay the claimant and the named payee from start to finish.
• No upfront fee, and you can cancel within 3 business days for any reason (longer where your state's law gives you more time).

Where a buyer may be better: if you want money sooner and accept a lower amount, a buyer may pay you before the county does; with us, you're paid by the county and we're paid only after that.

4. Star Thing Wind vs waiting for your state's unclaimed-property program

Where the state program is better

• Once the money reaches your state's unclaimed-property program, you can claim it there yourself for free, often with no deadline. We take no fee on money already with the state.

What to know

• Not every state sends unclaimed surplus to the state program: in some states the county or taxing units keep it for good after the deadline. Your state's page says which.
• Moving to the state can take a year or more, so acting before the county deadline is usually faster.

Find your state's free search: /tools/unclaimed-money