In California it is regular practice for agents to have new agents in their offices hold their houses open.

If you truly know what you want, and you understand the market well, and you've developed a network of people who know what you like to buy / rent / sell, then I don't see the value in paying anyone else for agency.

Maybe I could drop my haggle room off, drop off another 10K for agent's commission and be able to reduce the price 30K to get what I'm hoping for today.

Specifically, in my county, it's very common for agents to use the FMLS and not the GAMLS.This property was listed on the GAMLS and not the FMLS.

Look for agencies that have all of their recently sold properties listed online as well as for sale as another resource.Dion, I always thought ARV and Market Value were different animals that depending on the condition of the property could end up being the value.A house with ARV of $100,000 that needs $20,000 in repair would have a Market Value of $80,000 (what it is "worth" on the market "as is") if it didn’t need the $20k the ARV and Market Value would be the same.

If you have a local REI club, ask them/there for agent referrals.

I'm not sure if that was what you were looking for. AG

Are you looking for agents to find you properties that are already listed?

What is your model for agents?

Lastly, to new folks, I really wish that someone had told me to go read a state approved text book for agent licensing when I had first started waaaaay back, those are probably less than $50 and will give the big picture to RE that every investor should know, at least read once and keep in your library. :)