How do I find a good buyer's agent

Question

Hi All,

Newbie here. It's been a little challenging to find a good realtor who is experienced and knowledgeable while also reliable and motivated enough to return calls/emails personally and consistently, and actively look for properties within my criteria, and go on viewings for or with me instead of passing me on to a "team member". That has not worked and I've lost out on a few homes I was very interested in because the agent either didn't get back to me in time, or didn't know the area well to offer solid advice, or didn't want to put in much of an effort other than to send my some automated search result (which I often had already).

Since I'm looking outside of my area, I'm 100% dependent on my agent, so I want someone reliable and dedicated who is interested in providing good service for buyers and not just sellers/listings. I know the latter is preferred by most agents, which is why I'm actively looking for a good fit.

I used to be a realtor myself and have also had a couple of investment properties, so I'm well-versed in the sale process, escrow, etc. What I really need help with is finding the right property and the offer and  negotiation process.

I'd appreciate input on this. Thanks in advance,

NN

Ken Breeze · Answer

Hi @Nooshi N. ,

Welcome to the tribe of RE "addicts" ;-) There's probably not one RE question out there, that hasn't or can't be answered in this awesome community.

So this challenge is more about finding the "right" partner with similar values and goals than just finding any realtor. That also means when we look for partners or anyone to help us reach our goals, common goals or not, we need to tackle it from the perspective of "What's in it for them?" Why should the person we're looking for, prefer me over others? What value do I bring to the table for them to focus on me more and make the extra effort?

Reach out to them and have a conversation by asking questions like how can I best serve you? What do you need that I have? Build relationships. It takes time.

Here a few Tips:

ADS - Fine-tune your approach and search for the "right" person/partner by placing an ad on a regular basis here on Bigger Pockets. Try various headlines and content. Sooner or later the "right" partner will find you.

Social Media Profiles - Flesh out and fine-tune your social profiles to paint a picture of who you are and what and who you're seeking for. People are looking to work with people they like.

Keyword Alerts - Set up your keywords and reply or comment on threads to spread your reach to help the people you're looking for, find you.

Feel free to send me a PM. Perhaps we can do a deal together some day.

Best, Ken ;-)

Alex Deacon · Answer

@Nooshi N. i am also an agent and a seasoned investor. I can give you my perspective. I work with a lot of agents here in my market of Pittsburgh. Even though I am an agent I still allow them to help me find the deals. You cant do it alone. First and foremost I feel you pain and frustration. I have been an agent for 22 years and I see both sides. The agent side and the consumer side. Nobody is at fault its just a tough business.

Reach out to as many agents as you can. Also dont wast their time. Drive by the property first or at least do some research so they are not showing you homes and investments that you are not going to even consider. Agents are valuable but you have to find the right ones that are willing to work and know the market. You have to stay in front of them or you will get forgotten. We are all busy in todays world so until you start becoming valuable to an agent and doing a lot of deals the deals wont come to you unless you are always reaching out to them. Once you start buying more properties and become more successful the more valuable you will become to the agents and the more they will want to work with you.

I know it sounds harsh but I as an agent am going to work with the client who I like and who is going to allow me to make the most money in the least amount of time.

Also consider getting your real estate license again so you can at lest start doing the research easier and have full access to the MLS.

Nooshi N. · Answer

UPDATE: I found a great realtor in Bakersfield, thanks to BP!

Max Gradowitz was just the kind of agent I really needed. He was knowledgable about the market there and each neighborhood, as well as being very responsive throughout the process, returning calls/texts quickly so I could move forward. As someone wrote, what I needed was a realtor to work with me like a partner, and Max provided that. He genuinely cared about finding the right without property for me, but without being high-pressure or bombarding me with marketing emails. I was really torn between several rental properties, and Max did a great job of laying out the pros and cons of each and guiding me to my final pick. I closed escrow yesterday.  :)

Thanks again to those who replied with your input and suggestions. Very helpful!

Nooshi