Advice on Realtor Etiquette

[Jessica VanderJagt]

I'm seeking advice for finding a good rental property.  We have purchased one single family home with a realtor who is also the leasing agent for the property management company we are using.  3 months into ownership of the home, we are happy with the renter, management seems to be good and the tenant is paying rent.  We are working with the same realtor to purchase another property.  We find her input on the neighborhoods and market rent to be valuable.  

We're considering sending some direct mail to find off-market deals.  If someone called us as a result, could we ask our realtor to walk through it and give us advice?  Even though she wouldn't be closing the deal for us?  Or should we bring it to her and have her work out the closing?  We don't want to make a mistake by purchasing something that would be difficult to rent out.  We would probably continue to use this same property management company. 

I don't want to offend our realtor, but I also want to be doing what I can to find good deals.  Any advice?  Thanks!  

[Mike Cumbie]

Hi @Jessica VanderJagt, In my opinion you can send out letters and if you find them to do on your own that's all good. However if you ask her to go through them, you guys should come to an arrangement of some sort. It could be that she will be leasing them or you could offer her some money, the sell on something else etc. As long as you are both on the same page. If you are doing regular business together numbers change quite a bit and you may find having her handle the closing is worth it.

Good Luck!