Tips and Tricks for a Realtor Working with an Investor- Flipping!

[Joseph Ranola]

Hey guys,

I'm a Realtor on Staten Island, NY and I've recently come into two clients at the same time who have big cash reserves and want to flip properties. Naturally they want me to find them properties, they'll rehab them and then I'll be the listing agent to get it sold. One of them is also interested in keeping some for a buy-and-hold along the way. This is exciting to me in multiple ways because I've always wanted to be involved with investors (it's why I got my license), I'll learn as I help them (always wanted to invest in real estate) and, of course, I'll be making commission on both ends from finding them the property and then selling the property- with my first baby on the way as well as purchasing my first home within the month I'm doing all I can to make extra money so this is quite the timing. Just to clarify, they're two completely different clients, I'm working with them separately.

Flipping is not something I ever thought I'd be involved in so I've done nearly zero research on it in all of my time here- it was all spent on buy and holds. I've just purchased a bunch of books on flipping and have been reading, listening and researching all I can on it as well as foreclosures/bank owned properties as I feel they go hand in hand. 

My problem is that all of the books/everything I'm reading is geared towards the person doing the flipping, which makes perfect sense but I'm looking for advice on how to be the Realtor in this situation.

I have a ton of questions, but essentially I'm just looking for tips and tricks from any of you out there that are working for a flipper as well, or if you're a flipper and what you wish your real estate agent would do for you. Let me know anything at all, I'm all ears!

Lastly, as a side note, how does one become an agent that those with foreclosures contact to list for them? I did a lot of research and read all about BPO's, etc, but it doesn't seem like that's a prominent route anymore? Is there any other way? If you're one of these real estate agents I'd LOVE to hear from you!!

Thank you in advance to anyone that helps out!