It's refreshing that you're being encouraged to use professionals in our business. Having been an agent for 4 years now, i haven't run across one yet (in our market) that i would depend on to bring me the hottest deals in a timely fashion, meaning within a couple of hours of being listed. If you don't believe that the best investors are working that quickly, you may as well pack it in.
you also must consider that someone is paying a licesnsed professional to perform these services for you. I can hear everyone now saying that the seller pays these fees....you're paying the seller so you may as well be picking up the tab yourself. In our market, a rule of thumb for buyer agency services is 3%...that can be the difference between taking a risk on a deal and not....
I understand Tim's hesitance to accept a lower commissions in exchange for your future business. I happened to turn wrenches professionally for 10 years and the analogy Tim made has little relivance as i worked 5 times harder for my wages as a mechanic. Many professional in this business, IMHO, feel that a handsom wage is a birth-right and they'll fight to educate the masses that taking a discount is a huge no no...
whatever!!! i'll take a lower commission in a second if i think i can sell 3 of your homes in a year and you have enough ability to produce. making a living is often a team effort but unfortnately, the investors around here with the real ability are....LICENSED AGENTS WORKING FOR THEMSELVES...go figure. if you can't find a realtor to work with you on their compensation, find another realtor.
Realtors are good at marketing your property on the back end but if you're depending on one to run your comps, provide you with info about the arera and the school districts etc, find your deal and help you get it closed, you won't be buying many deals because these are retail services....
point being, you should become a licensed agent if you plan on being successful.
