I'm Doing All the Work. Is This Typical with a Real Estate Agent?

[April L.]

I've been working with an agent for a few months now to buy my first STR property in the North Georgia mountains, but it feels like I'm doing all the work. She has me on an email drip but the criteria stinks and I can't even search for things, so I basically find homes on my own (Zillow or Realtor.com) and she makes appointments. It's exhausting because I have a full time job.

I just found out that she does NOT pay for the MLS to have access to Blue Ridge, GA, a big area of interest for me.

My agent says that she can contact agents and still book appointments for properties I send her, but I think I'm missing out on opportunities. I have two properties I really want to see, and after 5 days, she "has not heard from the selling agent."  

Would she have more success if she had access to the Blue Ridge MLS?

Should she have a more active role in helping me finding property?

I hate to give up on her. I mean she has already showed me a handful of properties and spent at least three full days on the weekend driving all over North Georgia, so I'd feel crappy replacing her at this point.

[Zach Lemaster]

@April L.

My recommendations are to be working with multiple agents/brokers in an area to see who will be bringing the best deals, and who performs the best.  You do not have to exclusively work with only one.  All my brokers know if they present me with the right deal, I will work with him on the transaction, but they need to be the one to bring it to me.  They also know when they do bring me something that fits my criteria, we buy it and don't waste their time.  A little competition is a good thing to ensure you are see all the best deals & getting to work with multiple agents.  Lastly, you will still need to put in the time and effort to ensure the deal is right for you to proceed with.  Brokers/agents help, but that ultimately comes down to you making the business decision as the owner.