should i sign an agent contract

[Jane S.]

I'm an investor searching for income properties. Have been working with a very good supportive broker. Now he wants me to sign that agent contract. But I feel limited because if I find a FSBO the seller is not gonna want to pay him and the whole purpose of the agent contract is to get him paid for all the work he's doing for me. And it's a lot. But on a FSBO he wouldnt do any work. I also sometimes get properties from wholesalers, and in general either they or I do the paperwork. I don't need a broker to write a contract but I do need one to get into any properties that look promising. And since the MLS controls 95% of the listings around here, signing the agent contract clips my wings. What is a good way to resolve this. I need to be free to act on any deal that looks promising. Would prefer to buy something that he can earn from. Should I agree to pay him a certain sum if i buy a non-listed deal.