Real Estate Agent · Birmingham, AL · Member since 2021 · 26 posts · 29 votes
To all the out of state investors, what are ways an agent in Birmingham can add value and help your search for the right property? Whether that is having boots on the ground, underwriting or knowing the rental demand in a certain area. What helps you feel the most confident investing in a new market?
For myself, I would want to see rental comps, sale comps and as much data as possible to support whatever my plan for the property would be (LTR, STR, Fix and Flip). I'd also love to see the agent have a solid reputation and be a valuable resource to go to for anything I will need - especially a solid list of trade vendors I can call if something needs repair or cleaning. :)
If the agent can also show me their own track record and/or some successful client stories/deals that would lend itself to provide me with a higher confidence in where I was investing and the agent I was using.
Hello Clay. That is a great question. As an out of state investor, I would want for an agent who can help find deals before they hit the market, whether that is pocket listings or a property that may be going to the MLS. I would also like for an agent to help provide background information or resources regarding the various neighborhoods in a given market. Now that the crime maps have been removed from Trulia and Realtor, it is important to get accurate information about if a property is in an "A" neighborhood or "D" neighborhood. It's also of great value to have an agent who has a good network of other professionals such as Property Managers, Contractors, and Inspections. This would help the investor build the team pretty quickly, if they are solid performers. Lastly it is great for an agent who can use technology to support their clients, such as recordings of property visits.