Georgia Realtors - Exclusive Buyer Brokerage Agreement

[Rick C.]

I recently started to look at properties in the Atlanta area, where I intend to do multiple purchases within the next year. I do not live there nor am I from there, so I had a buyer's realtor, whom I recently met, take an afternoon and show me around. This realtor was very helpful, but when I went to make my first offer, it was requested that I sign an Exclusive Buyer Brokerage Agreement. It would go for four months and cover all properties, including off market deals. I invest heavily in the Tampa area and my buyer's realtor there has never even asked me to sign such a document. Is this practice more common, even for investors, in the Atlanta area? If not, is there another document that I should request be used to demonstrate our relationship?