RE agent advice for a newbie

[Andre Taylor-Domville]

Hey everyone!,

Newbie investor here on the verge of my first house hack deal in my market of northern New Jersey (Bergen or Hudson county specifically). I've connected with what seems to be a very good, investor friendly, agent who also does investing on his own which I was really looking for as I'm just starting my career. However, recently I've noticed that communication has slightly slowed and I find myself having to reach out more and more which wasn't the case in the beginning. This is especially frustrating as I have already gone through the pre-approval process and am excited to finally start seeing properties. 

My question is, is this what to expect from a successful agent and should I just be a little more patient as he clearly brings value to to the table? Or should I start to look elsewhere? I know there's a lot of agents out there however one with this type of experience and guidance is very valuable to me at this stage in my career. Any advice (or agent referrals) would be appreciated thanks in advance!

[Craig Curelop]

@Andre Taylor-Domville - Many agents out there are extremely busy. However, as an agent myself, I think communication with clients is THE #1 MOST IMPORTANT thing. Especially if you are a first time home buyer. He needs to understand that this is going to likely be the largest investment you make to date and your questions, no matter what they are, are warranted. 

Now, you never know people's life situations. He could be extremely busy so if he is actually great, he probably has a lot of clients. Don't be afraid if he hands you off to another team member. So long as he's still there to answer one-off questions or he has at least trained those team members. 

I would go on BiggerPockets' Networking part of the site and message 5-10 agents in your area to see if they'd like to meet for coffee. From there, ask them the appropriate questions and whatever one you like the most, go for!