Chiming in here as an investor agent and property investor. My company focuses on helping investor customers and we have a full-service property management team with our brokerage. I have had customers ignore my advice and talk to the listing agent directly, or they go off on their own and find a property they think is great, but end up with a money-pit.
The customer who spoke directly to the listing agent did not necessarily get the best deal. Why? Because it's up to One agent to make the best decision and You-(the buyer) don't know this agent. They signed an agreement with their Seller to get them the best price for their home as possible. When they sign an agreement with you, they need to try and get you the best price possible. With only One agent that you don't even know, you're at the mercy of their competency, experience, due diligence, and ethical nature of One person...With 2 agents, you have a higher likelihood of Neutrality and getting the best possible deal. My customer who went directly to the listing agent, did NOT get the best deal, he actually overpaid for the property. If he stayed with me, I could have negotiated about 10-15k lower for him. As agents, we're trained to negotiate and fight for our buyer customers-(well, some agents are). There are rules and standards for being Realtors and licensed agents, but not all abide by or educate themselves on all these things.
My other customer, who disregarded my advice went to a wholeseller who sold him a home that was not close to being tenant-ready, like the customer wanted. Instead, he purchased a whole that needed permitting, a new roof, new AC, several structural issues, etc. He came back to me several months after closing-(he still planned to use our PMgt services), and was devastated with the amount of money and work he had to put into the home to get it move-in ready...As an investor agent, I know what to look for in investment properties and which ones are duds, high-risks, or simply poor investments. If he only consulted my advice before going under contract, I could have helped him and found a much more reasonable investment for his budget.
So, all that being said, to find your investment agent in your area, you should do your research. Start online and find the most competent and sharp-looking companies. Make a list and start vetting them. Call, video chat, email, text them, etc. Do they have time to talk to you, or do they put you on hold? Do they respond via email promptly? Are their responses informative? Do they sound like they know what they're doing? Are their rates reasonable? How are their online Reviews?-(keep in mind these are not always accurate). How do you feel when you talk to them, could you see yourself working with them for several years? Do you trust them with your asset(s)? Can they provide numbers, reports, more info, and data about the industry and the rental market for you?
Anyway, hope this is helpful for you.
