Thoughts on representing self as Buyers Agent

[Jesse Wexler]

I have been looking for a primary residence in Brooklyn NY for the past 7 months or so.  5 offers with my last broker, nothing to show for it except a lease ending and living out of my girlfriends parents place for the time being.  I am going to see a property this weekend, and I posed the idea to the sellers agent or her representing both sides, as that would give more room to negotiate as the buyers agent half of the commission disappears.   She doesnt like the idea of doing that as it can inherently create a conflict of interest, and I respect that.

She posed to me that I could just represent myself.  My thoughts are that the role of the buyers agent up here is to negotiate and that's it.  My real estate attorney handles everything else, whether with a broker or not.  No previous agent has brought me an off market deal, so everything is on street easy, and I found the unit in question myself.   Am an in idiot for taking this approach?  Am I missing anything that I should be aware of?  I come from a sales background and now I own and operate a home care business, I have the utmost confidence to negotiate on my own behalf.  Thanks BP friends! 

[Caleb Brown]

Are you licensed? If you are not then you can't be your own agent. The listing agent would be representing the seller and you'd be unrepresented. The listing agent would love if you didn't have an agent because they would get more $$ in their pocket. I would stick with your broker. Send them this listing, there might be a reason it didn't show up in your search.  See why your offers aren't getting accepted. Try to figure out how out HOW to make them winning offers. If the market is hot then make a stronger offer or expand your search. My market it is cooling so a few months ago is different than today. Also 5 offers in the last 7 months is not a lot, if you made 20+ that's different.