Geo warehouse

[Dan Carlini]

Does anyone use Geo Warehouse (www.geowarehouse.ca)? I've read a lot about driving for dollars yet I'm unsure how to do a title search in Ontario without being a lawyer or real estate agent. It seems that with a subscription to Geo Warehouse a person could easily bypass the agent and do their own research. Any thoughts?

[Nick Thompson]

Finding a good Agent/Broker is like finding a business partner.  It takes time and effort but the results are well worth it.  I am not an agent and likely never will be.  In my local market I interviewed over a dozen agents before finally finding the family team I use now.  The husband and wife have been agents and investors in the local area for 25 years and their daughter is a hungry young agent who is now the top deal closer in the area.  The combination of the local knowledge of the parents and the grit of the daughter makes them worth every penny.  Even if I find a private deal I still bring them in and pay their fee out of my pocket just to use their knowledge and expertise.  I also do this out of respect and gratitude for the amount of work they do for us.  Pay good people well and they will pay you back in multiple through their hard work.

That all being said I am always on the hunt for other good agents.  I meet with new agents in the area who say they are investor friendly and put them to work.  I give each one my standard criteria for what I consider a good deal and if they bring me something that fits that criteria then I will buy from them.  It is like using agents as bird-dogs.  My go-to agents know I do this and are okay with it.  They like to see new agents working hard and bringing a good name to the profession and will often poach the successful young agents to come work on their team.

It is very rare to find an Agent who is willing to put in the effort that is required to work with investors however they do exist and they are worth their weight in gold.

Don't give up looking, you will find your soul mate agent eventually.