Picking a Real Estate Agent

[Toni Annis]

How do you pick a Real Estate Agent? There are a lot of agents in my area but I have no idea which ones are investing savvy. I have my suspicions based on my online research and what little bit of interactions I have had but I don't know for sure. I am looking at buying another property in the new future and it looks like I might be on a time crunch with a potential 1031 exchange so I'm trying to get a jump start and looking at my options now. Do I...

A.) Find the properties on my own and just call the listing agents?

B.) Pick an agent and just hope I pick the right one. OR...

C.) Type up an email explaining our goals, strategies, and property criteria to send to the ones I think are investor friendly and know about property analysis and see who responds and what they bring me?

Also, if I do hire a buyers agent but then find a FSBO property do I still need to use my agent or can I go forward on my own with such a property.

If there are any investors on here from Casper, WY, or the surrounding areas, that knows anything about the real estate professionals in our area (agents, Lawyers, CPA's, etc...) I would love to talk to you and get your input!